 Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 14 Oct 2004 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 30 Jan 2004 |  Photographer: Didier Mossiat
Date: 15 Mar 2005 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 10 Feb 2005 |  Photographer: Didier Mossiat
Date: 15 Mar 2005 |  Photographer: Giorgio Maiozzi
Date: 27 Sep 2003 |
|
| 15 Mar 2005 - ITF - Will Fletcher | |
| Brazilians Provide Banana Skins |
None of the top four seeded boys were in action in the singles yesterday but there was plenty of exciting tennis as the Brazilians took advantage of their local knowledge on the clay of Sao Jose dos Campos. Three wildcards provided the first upsets of the tournament as Moacir Santos Fo (BRA) overcame the 11th seed Serguei Tarasevitch from Belarus 63 76(5). This was followed by Gustavo Carvalho’s (BRA) efforts as he provided a great spectacle for the home supporters battling hard in the Sao Paulo sun to eventually defeat the much higher ranked Jose Roberto Zunino Serran (ECU) 61 67(5) 76(2). Meanwhile Alain Michel (BRA), not wanting to be outdone, promptly accounted for 14th seed Chris Chirico (USA) 63 64.
Other players through to the second round include sixth seed Brazilian Raony Carvalho who defeated Greece’s Paris Gemouchidis 64 62. Piero Luisi from Venezuela forced the ninth seed Myles Blake (GBR) to take an early exit as result of his 76(3) 64 victory while his compatriot David Navarrete (VEN), seeded five, progressed along with other seeds Ryan Sweeting (BAH) and Kei Nishikori (JPN).
In the girls’ draw there were few surprises as top seed Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) breezed into the second round conceding only one game but not giving an inch to Soledad Podlipnik (CHI) who was overwhelmed 61 60. The in form Italian Giulia Gabba, seeded two, was pushed slightly harder but still came through unscathed against Jennifer Stevens (USA) 62 76(1). Regina Kulikova (RUS) also looked sharp as she made light work of her match against Barbara Laszloffy (HUN) 61 60. The only real upset in the girls’ competition was Lauren Albanese’s (USA) victory over Russian Evgeniya Rodina (63 64) who is ranked 32 in the world and was expected to feature in the latter stages of the tournament.
All the other seeded players advanced to the second round including Emiko Ito (JPN), Raluca Olaru (ROM), Maria Fernanda Alvarez (BOL), Sharon Fichman (CAN), Estefania Balda Alvarez (ECU) and Andrea Remynse (USA).
Players to watch today will be top seed Dusan Lojda (CZE) in his opening match against Roberto Maytin (VEN) and also his compatriots Nikola Frankova (girls’ third seed) and Katerina Kramperova (girls’ 10th seed) as they face Japanese players Saori Karikomi and Kurumi Nara respectively. Highly rated Argentineans, Leonardo Mayer (boys’ fourth seed) and Florencia Molinero (girls’ eighth seed), will be looking for victories following their good form on the ITF South American circuit this year. Second seed Aljoscha Thron (GER) will also be in action as he takes on USA’s Yevgeny Perepelov.
Nevertheless, the home support will be firmly focused on the matches involving girls’ fourth seed Roxane Vaisembourg (BRA) and boys’ third seed Andre Miele (BRA) and seventh seed Luis Grangeiro (BRA). After yesterday’s victories it is so far so good for the hosts. If Miele and Grangeiro can follow in Raony Carvalho’s footsteps there is a good chance that one of these three will be the first Brazilian boy to lift the Banana Bowl since Eduardo Oncins in 1981.
Check out the ITF homepage for daily reports and photos from the 35th Banana Bowl…
^ Back to Top
|
