 Photographer: Aquiles Duarte
Date: 04 Jan 2005 |  Photographer: Aquiles Duarte
Date: 04 Jan 2005 |  Photographer: Aquiles Duarte
Date: 04 Jan 2005 |  Photographer: Aquiles Duarte
Date: 04 Jan 2005 |  Photographer: Aquiles Duarte
Date: 04 Jan 2005 | |
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| 04 Jan 2005 - London - Faye Andrews | |
| Young and Wozniak triumph at the Casablanca Cup |
Donald Young (USA) and Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) made perfect starts to the new year with titles at the first Grade A event of 2005, the Casablanca Cup, Mexico.
Young, the fifteen year old American tipped for big things in 2005, overcame the challenge of Argentina’s Juan-Martin del Potro 75 75 in the final to claim his first ITF Junior Circuit Grade A title. Both players, seeded No.1 and No.2 respectively, showed great form all week, neither dropping a set en route to the final. Both also faced Dutch opposition in the semis, Young defeated Thiemo de Bakker 63 63, whilst del Potro saw off Robin Haase 64 64. In the final it was Young’s consistency that proved the vital difference.
Young now moves up to No.2 in the first ranking of 2005.
Del Potro gained some consolation by winning the doubles title with Venezuela’s David Navarette, again putting paid to Dutch hopes by defeating Haase and Antal Van Der Duim (NED) 63 63 in the final.
For Aleksandra Wozniak it was third time lucky at the Casablanca Cup. In her previous two visits she did not make it past the quarterfinals, however 2005 proved to be her year when she defeated Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) 63 36 61 in the final. Wozniak also rounded off a perfect week with victory in the doubles with partner Yung-Jan Chan (TPE).
In the singles, the top two seeds, Chan and Wen-Hsin Hsu both from Chinese Taipei, were out by the quarterfinals, thus opening up the field. No.4 seed Cibulkova defeated Krysty Marcio in the semifinals to secure her place in the final, whilst No.5 seed Wozniak took full advantage to move through the bottom half of the draw, defeating defending champion Julia Cohen (USA) 60 75 in the quarterfinals and benefiting from the retirement of No.6 seed Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) in the semis.
Wozniak started the final the better of the two, racing to a 63 lead, but a lapse in concentration allowed Cibulkova back into the match, levelling the score 36, however, Wozniak managed to regain her concentration in time to run away with the third set and the match 63 36 61.
Young, Wozniak and Cibulkova will all soon be travelling to Australia to compete in the first junior Grand Slam of the year at the Australian Open, starting 24th January.
You will be able to follow the action at the Australian Junior Open with daily reports from Melbourne Park on www.itftennis.com/juniors
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