 Photographer: Francesco Panunzio
Date: 19 May 2005 |  Photographer: Francesco Panunzio
Date: 19 May 2005 |  Photographer: Francesco Panunzio
Date: 17 May 2005 |  Photographer: Francesco Panunzio
Date: 19 May 2005 |  Photographer: Francesco Panunzio
Date: 17 May 2005 |  Photographer: Francesco Panunzio
Date: 19 May 2005 |
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| 19 May 2005 - ITF - Will Fletcher | |
| Mayer Leads the Field in Milan |
After day three of the Italian Open, the boys singles draw has regained some predictability after the early exits of a number of seeded players, including World No.1 Donald Young (USA), third seed Sergei Bubka (UKR) and fourth seed Andre Miele (BRA).
Half of the quarterfinalists were decided yesterday as second seed Leonardo Mayer (ARG) underwent a vigorous workout against Evgeny Kirillov (RUS). The 13th seed from Russia battled back from a set down to force the tournament favourite from Argentina into a tough deciding set. Mayer ultimately stood up to the challenge going through to the last eight after a 75 67(5) 64 performance. Having waltzed through the first two rounds this tough encounter could be a blessing for the Banana Bowl Champion, who will need to be fully focused for his quarterfinal match against Austria’s Andreas Haider-Maurer. The fifth seed, who won the Japan Open a month ago, came through his match against Australia’s James Lemke in straight sets 64 61 to set up the biggest clash of the tournament so far.
Other quarterfinalists are Croatian Petar Jelenic who defeated Martin Pedersen (DEN) 61 64, and he will face Russia’s Valery Rudnev who accounted for 12th seed Alexander Sadecky (SUI) in the third round. The Russian will be pleased by the manner in which he came back from a 61 deficit in the first set to take the match 16 62 61, but may have mixed feelings about the identity of his opponent in the next round. Jelenic only dropped two games as he beat Rudnev easily at this stage of the Grade 1 in Santa Croce last week and will therefore hold the psychological edge going into this match.
In the top half of the draw the four quarterfinalists will be decided today, featuring the most eagerly awaited match of the third round. Over the last two months Italy’s Andrea Arnaboldi has won three of the four tournaments that he has entered on the ITF Junior Circuit and will face sixth seed Carsten Ball from USA. Milan-born Arnaboldi has never achieved great success at Grade A level with his best result being a third round loss at this tournament in 2003. However, he is in great form and will certainly be comfortable on the clay of Tennis Club Milano playing at the Open for the fourth consecutive year in the city of his birthplace. Californian Ball, who came to Italy on the back of his runners up position at last month’s Easter Bowl (US Closed Champs), has the pedigree to progress but may lack the clay court experience to overcome the home favourite.
In the girls’ singles while there was also an early exodus of seeded players from the tournament, six of the top eight seeds still remain as we approach the third round and quarterfinal stage of the draw, so it is by no means as open as the boys’ competition. Top seed Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) was tested in her third round match but advanced ahead of Marrit Boonstra (NED) after going up a gear to win 76(5) 57 62. Meanwhile Mihaela Buzarnescu (ROM) overcame Brazil’s Roxane Vaisemberg 46 64 61 to set up a quarterfinal meeting with the favourite.
Third seed Caroline Wozniacki from Denmark also maintained the form book as, after a tough first set, she eventually beat Russia’s Evgeniya Rodina quite comfortably 57 61 61. She will now face Bibiane Schoofs from the Netherlands who defeated Katerina Kramperova (CZE) 64 75. Wozniacki and Cibulkova will be slight favourites to advance to the semifinals and, as the seeding suggests, the Slovakian is still the favourite to take the title.
However, in the other half of the draw a great third round match up between second seed Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) and Sara Errani (ITA) could give some clues to who the eventual champion might be. Both have been battling it out on the WTA tour over the last couple of years but one would expect the higher ranked Makarova (WTA 234) to overcome Errani (WTA 393). However, the Italian has performed well in recent weeks reaching the final of her two previous junior tournaments on clay and will also have the advantage of home soil.
Other third round matches to be played involve Renee Reinhard (NED) against Sorana Cirstea (ROM) and Italian Corinna Dentoni against fourth seed Vania King (USA).
To keep up with all the latest news from the Italian Open in Milan check the ITF Juniors Italian Open page.
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