 Photographer: Eleanor Preston
Date: 14 Dec 2004 |  Photographer: Eleanor Preston
Date: 14 Dec 2004 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 15 Dec 2004 |  Photographer: Eleanor Preston
Date: 14 Dec 2004 |  Photographer: Eleanor Preston
Date: 14 Dec 2004 | |
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| 15 Dec 2004 - Key Biscayne - Tim Curry | |
| Kirkland, Poutchkova post easy wins at Orange Bowl |
Jessica Kirkland and Olga Poutchkova, the two girls with the highest professional rankings entered in this year’s Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships, easily won their matches on Tuesday. Kirkland, ranked No. 244 on the WTA Tour, lost only one game in her first round romp over Teodora Mircic while No. 271 Poutchkova defeated Ekaterina Shulaeva, 6-2, 6-2, in a second round match.
“It’s hard to play in the juniors after being in pro events all year. It’s different, but it’s good to get some matches,” said Poutchkova, who played in eight main draws on the ITF Womens' Circuit this year, earning just under $10,000 while winning the title in College Park, Md., and reaching the final in Pelham, Ala. She also lost in the first round of qualifying at the WTA Tour event in Philadelphia this fall.
The two players had mixed results last week at the USTA International Winter Championships. Poutchkova lost in the first round while Kirkland defeated Mary Gambale in the final to win her second career ITF junior event. If all goes according to form, No. 2 seed Monica Niculescu is the only player prevent Kirkland and Poutchkova from meeting in the final after No. 1 Katerina Bondarenko retired on Monday.
“You kinda feel like you have a target on your back,” said Kirkland, who reached the US Open girls’ singles final in September – her last appearance at a junior event before playing here. “With the limited number of pro events we can play, this is a great way to get some good matches.”
Poutchkova will next face Alla Kudryavtseva, who turned back No. 15 Elizabeth Plotkin, on Thursday. Kirkland will play her second round match against qualifier Fernanda Hermenegildo on Wednesday.
On the boys’ side, No. 4 Jeremy Chardy was the only seeded player to lose on the second day of 18-and-under play. The Frenchman who won the Eddie Herr Championships -- the first event on the Florida winter international circuit two weeks ago in Bradenton -- lost to wild card entry Sam Querrey, 6-3, 6-4.
“I got a break early and kept the lead,” said Querrey, who never trailed in the match. “I knew it was important to stay ahead of him. He’s too good of a player to let back into the match.”
The rest of the seeds in action Tuesday fared well as the Nos. 3 Rafael Arevalo, No. 5 Donald Young and No. 6 Mykyta Krovonos each advanced to the third round and Sun Yong Kim and Mihail Zverev, the top two seeds, won their first round matches. Both Kim and Zverev will be in action Wednesday.
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