 Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 12 Sep 2004 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 30 Jan 2005 |  Photographer: Aquiles Duarte
Date: 29 Dec 2004 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 26 Jan 2005 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 12 Sep 2004 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 30 Jan 2005 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 06 Jun 2004 |
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| 28 May 2005 - Roland Garros, Paris - Faye Andrews | |
| Juniors arrive at Roland Garros |
The second Junior Grand Slam of the year kicks off on Sunday at Roland Garros. Last year’s winners, Gael Monfils and Sesil Karatentcheva have already moved on and made an impact on the professional circuit, so the players in this year’s draw will be looking to emulate their success.
Top of the pile in the boys’ draw is Great Britain’s Andrew Murray, last year’s US Open champion. Although he has not played on the junior circuit this year Murray is still ranked 7 in the junior rankings and he has been working his way up the professional rankings, so takes the top seed spot thanks to an ATP ranking of 359.
American Donald Young, current junior No.1, will be looking to secure his second Grand Slam of the year. After a difficult start to the clay court season with a first round loss in Milan, the American appears to have found his feet at the Astrid Bowl.
Threats to the top two will come from Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro, who will obviously feel at home on the clay of Roland Garros. In form Neils Desein will be looking to become the first Belgian boy to win the title and French hopes will be resting on the shoulders of Jeremy Chardy.
In the girl’s draw American Jessica Kirkland will be looking to go one better than her US Open runner up place in 2004. Having played in the qualifying competition for the main draw thanks to a WTA ranking of 185, Kirkland will be acclimatised to Roland Garros, which could give her a vital advantage.
Like Donald Young, Viktoria Azarenka will be looking to continue her 100% record in Grand Slams in 2005. The Belarussian now trains in Spain, so should be accustomed the red clay and will attempting to slide her way to success.
Switzerland’s Timea Bacsinszky will be hoping to make her first final after three semifinals in the last two years. However, she will have to get past two Romanians, last year’s runner up Madalina Gojnea and Raluca Olaru, who is showing great form on clay, having finished runner up in Milan, and champion at the Astrid Bowl.
Aravene Rezai and Alize Cornet will be carrying French hopes and after they both got a taste of the action in the main draw, they will undoubtedly be eager to get back on court in front of the French crowds.
Action starts at 11.00 on Sunday and will reach a conclusion on Sunday 2 June.
Daily reports will be posted from Roland Garros, so keep up to date with all the action at www.itftennis.com/juniors.
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