 Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 04 Jun 2004 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 04 Jun 2004 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 04 Jun 2004 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 04 Jun 2004 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 04 Jun 2004 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 04 Jun 2004 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 04 Jun 2004 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 04 Jun 2004 |
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| 04 Jun 2004 - Paris - Eleanor Preston | |
| Kuznetsov carves out clash with Monfils |
American Alex Kuznetsov will be the underdog for many observers when he goes up against French favourite Gael Monfils in the boys’ final at Roland Garros but the Florida-based teenager shows no sign of a crisis of confidence.
“I don’t want to brag but I was definitely looking to do very well here before the tournament,” said Kuznetsov. “Even though I wasn’t seeded that high I always saw myself as one of the main contenders for the title.”
Kuznetsov’s self-belief is well justified given his progress in Paris, and yesterday’s 36 64 60 win over fellow Floridian Brendan Evans in the semi-finals.
It was another gutsy performance from the Ukraine-born American, who had to come from a set down against Evans.
“Brendan started like a train in the first set and I was a little bit nervous,” admitted Kuzentsov. In the second I told myself that I needed to make him beat me and not keep beating myself. It was tough and Brendan and I always get very pumped up when we play so it was always going to be close. When I got nervous I had to really calm down. Everybody gets nervous and the ones who deal with it best are the best players. I’m in the final and I’m there for a reason.
“Maybe it’s the Russian in me, we know how to fight. My dad always tells me about when he was growing up and how tough he had things, and I always try to remember that.”
Against Monfils Kuznetsov will need every ounce of focus, for Monfils has coped well with the pressure placed on his shoulders by an expectant public at his home grand slam. Friday saw him beat the Slovak Republic’s Kamil Capkovic 62, 62 with another purposeful performance.
“There is a little bit of pressure here but I have coped better with it as the week went on. I just try to concentrate on my match” said the softly spoken Monfils.
“Matches like my win over Brendan are going to help me when it comes to the final against Monfils because I’ve had a lot of tough matches while he has kind of cruised a little bit,” said Kuznetsov. “I think if I can stay with him then I know I have a chance.”
In the girls’ final, Romania’s Madalina Gojnea continued her impressive run at Roland Garros to set up a final against top seeded Bulgarian Sesil Karatancheva. Gojnea beat Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland 76 06 62.
Karatancheva who is based at Nick Bollettieri’s Academy in Florida and boasts a WTA Tour ranking on the fringes of the Top 200, was too strong for Katarina Bondarenko, beating the Ukrainian 76 61.
“I’m pretty excited, especially because it was such a tough match,” said Gojnea. “I tried to take a bathroom break after I lost the second set but it was closed, so I just laughed and went back to the court. It kind of gave me time to relax and think about what I needed to do.”
Like Monfils, Karatancheva will be the heavy favourite, but Gojnea agrees that sometimes underdogs can bite back when it comes to the tense environment of a junior Grand Slam final. “Usually I play better when I am up against a good, strong player,” she said. “I know I have nothing to lose because I have already taken a big step this week towards becoming a professional.”
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