 Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 06 Sep 2004 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 06 Sep 2004 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 06 Sep 2004 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 06 Sep 2004 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 06 Sep 2004 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 06 Sep 2004 |
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| 05 Sep 2004 - Flushing Meadows, New York, USA - Eleanor Preston | |
| Kuznetsov Leads American Charge At Flushing Meadows |
Roland Garros runner-up Alex Kuznetsov is amongst a phalanx of Americans hoping for home success at the US Open. Yesterday, along with Scoville Jenkins, Scott Oudsema and Brendan Evans, Kuznetsov moved through to the second round, beating Robin Haase of the Netherlands 76 60.
Kuznetsov had a slow start against Haase and put it down to the nerves that come with playing in his home grand slam and what some regard as the intimidating surroundings of the USTA National Tennis Centre, where American players must carry the weight of expectation on their young shoulders.
“It’s very exciting but first matches are always tough for everyone,” said Kuznetsov after his match. “I needed to calm down a bit on the court but I did that and afterwards I began playing well.”
Kuznetsov, seeded four, has been in New York since he played in the men’s qualifying rounds more than a week ago so he had plenty of time to think about his first match in the juniors. “It’s tough keep up your competitiveness all that time and then to make the transition back to the juniors but you have to go out there and do well at what you’ve been working on whether it’s juniors or seniors,” he said.
Jenkins, who was beaten by Andy Roddick in the first round of the men’s competition, was too strong for Divij Sharan, beating the Indian 64 61. Oudsema, seeded eleventh, beat Sergei Bubka, the son of the famous Ukrainian Olympic pole vaulter of the same name, 46 63 62. Florida-based Evans, seeded five, beat fellow American Dennis Lajola 61 63.
There was disappointment, though, for the much-heralded American Donald Young, who lost a close match to seventh seeded Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky 63 16 76(5).
In the girls’ competition, USA’s Jessica Kirkland beat Czech Nikola Frankova 6-3, 6-3 while 15th seed Alisa Kleybanova beat Ana Jerman of Slovenia 62 46 63.
Boys’ top seed and pre-tournament favourite Gael Monfils of France will be in action on Tuesday when he will test his injured knee against Remko di Rijke of the Netherlands. Having won the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon junior titles Monfils could win the Grand Slam of junior titles if he takes the trophy at Flushing Meadows.
If Monfils can withstand the pressure on him (and his knee holds up) then he would become the first boy to do win all four titles in a calendar year since Stefan Edberg in 1983.
Kuznetsov, who lost to Monfils in the Roland Garros final, cannot yet claim to be near such achievements but Tuesday’s performance suggests he is capable of withstanding the pressure that comes with playing at home.
“I’m playing this sport for a reason and that’s to be the best player I can be,” said Kuznetsov. “Pressure comes with that and you have to learn to deal with it. It comes with the territory because if you’ve had good results and you’ve had a lot of people talking about you then at one time or another you’re going to have to back it up.”
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