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 Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 09 Aug 2005 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 09 Aug 2005 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 09 Aug 2005 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 09 Aug 2005 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 09 Aug 2005 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 09 Aug 2005 |
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| 09 Aug 2005 - Prostejov, Czech Republic - Isabelle Gemmel & James Harrisson | |
| World Junior Tennis Finals 2005 - Round up day 2 |
The second day of play in Prostejov was full of excitement, as teams tried to build on or recover from Monday's performances.
Day two in the girls’ event saw few upsets, as the majority of the top seeded teams strolled past lesser opposition. Top seed Russia wasted no time securing victory against Chile as Marta Sirotkina beat Javiera Colignon 62 60, and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova dropped just one game as she sailed past Camila Silva in just 35 minutes. Elena Kulikova then joined the attack, pairing up with Pavlychenkova to further underline Russia’s dominance of their South American opposition and win the match 63 60.
The other match in group one saw Mexico take on Australia. Sally Peers, born and bred in Melbourne, stormed ahead in her match against Alejandra Granillo. She dropped only one game in the opening set before suffering a major collapse and losing the second 62. Unfortunately for the aussies, the nightmare continued, and Granillo carried the momentum into the decider, taking it 61. Isabella Holland then took on Pamela Montez and won the opening set 63 before eventually managing to clinch the second set 75, to win the match and force a deciding doubles. Holland and Peers continued for Australia, while the Mexicans substituted Granillo for her team mate Victoria Lozano. The Mexicans took the initiative in the match, and won 60 in the first. Australia, however, is not a nation known for throwing in the towel, and their fighting quality was evident for the remainder of the match. In the second set nothing could separate the teams, and Peers and Holland won the inevitable tiebreak. All the players showed both physical and mental strength in the deciding set and at 5 games apiece it was still impossible to pick a winner. However, it was the Mexicans who were finally broken, giving a 2-1 victory in the tie to Australia. Australia face Russia tomorrow in a tie that will decide who tops group one.
Another match which went right down to the wire was between USA and Ukraine. Kiev born Tetyana Arefyeva overwhelmed American Brittany Augustine in straight sets, 60 61, before Gail Brodsky levelled the tie with a three set victory over Yuliya Goloborodko, 61 36 61. The doubles match, which the Americans needed to win to stay in control of group four, was level at one set all with only one service break the difference in each. In a very tense third set the standard was high and as neither team faltered under the pressure, the score reached 55, then 66. The wind was picking up and rain looked a possibility, and spectators wondered if either team would break before the weather closed in. In the end it was Ukraine who got the break of serve, winning the match 57 64 86 and the tie 2-1 and staging the largest upset of the competition so far.
Third seed China had to come from behind after Gisela Pere from Ecuador beat Yi Zhong 61 60 in the first singles match. Yia-miao Zhou then levelled the tie with a 64 61 victory over Lorena Aviles. The Chinese then needed just 50 minutes to finish off the job, with a 60 62 win in the doubles to take the tie 2-1.
In the day’s other girls’ ties, Japan overcame Algeria 3-0, dropping just five games in three matches. Croatia beat Peru 3-0, Slovenia were victors over Germany and Czech Republic won against Korea, both also winning all three matches.
Today’s matches in boys’ group one were filled with suspense. The Czech Republic took on second seed USA and was keen to make up for yesterday’s loss against Japan in front of the home crowds. Devin Britton won the first rubber in less than an hour against Marek Rastica, before the Czech struck back, as Radim Urbanek beat Chase Buchanan in straight sets. The decisive doubles went to three sets. The Czech pairing of Rastica and Urbanek won the first set 62, but lost the second set by the same scoreline to Britton and his partner Blake Davis. The US duo quickly took a 52 lead in the third set, before the Czech pair managed to get a break back. With the score at 54, they saved three match points and even had an advantage point to level at 55, but the US boys kept their nerves together and won the match and the tie on their fourth match point.
The tie between Japan and South Africa was also level after the singles matches. Ko Suzuki won his second singles match of the week by beating Grant Ive (RSA) in straight sets. James Munro then beat Shuichi Sekiguchi. The Japanese boys proved true again their doubles strength, as Takeshi Endo and Ko Suzuki won the doubles against James Munro and Grant Ive 75 62. Tomorrow promises to be a very interesting last day of the round robin competiton, as two hereto unbeaten teams, USA and Japan, play each other for a place in the semifinal.
In group three Chinese Taipei created the surprise of the day by beating third seed Brazil. Although Rafael Paez (BRA) won the first singles of the day, Tsung-Hua Yang then won against Jose Pereira. Chung-Su Chen and Tsung-Hua Yang then had the edge, and won the doubles in three sets, winning 62 in the third set.
In group two Argentina and Russia continued their winning streak. Argentina easily overcame the Republic of Korea, winning all three rubbers in straight sets. Russia had to fight harder against Bulgaria, as Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) won the number one singles against Mikhail Biryukov (RUS). The Russians, however, remained in control throughout the decisive doubles match, winning it 63 63.
In group four Belgium underlined their ambition to finish top of the group by cruising to victory against Ecuador. Emilio Gomez, the son of Andres Gomez, made a disappointing debut in the competition when he lost to Gaetan de Lovinfosse. He made it to two games all in the first set, but then the young Belgian proved a lot stronger. Belgium, under their captain Reginald Willems, also won the other two matches to win the tie 3-0. Australia also continued their winning streak, making short work of Mexico without losing a set. Tomorrow promises an interesting playoff between Belgium and Australia for a chance to top the group and win a place in the semifinal.
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