 Photographer: Marcelo Ruschel
Date: 14 Mar 2006 |  Photographer: Marcelo Ruschel
Date: 14 Mar 2006 |  Photographer: Marcelo Ruschel
Date: 14 Mar 2006 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 14 Mar 2006 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 14 Mar 2006 |  Photographer: Francesco Panunzio
Date: 17 May 2005 |
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| 14 Mar 2006 - Will Fletcher | |
| Cornet Avoids Banana Skin Slip |
The 36th Banana Bowl got underway yesterday with huge prospects for Brazil’s juniors who have a realistic chance of producing the first Brazilian winner of the boys or girls 18 & Under event for fifteen years.
Ana-Clara Duarte had a tough opening match against Klaudia Malenovska of the Slovak Republic. It looked as if history would repeat itself as the sixteen year old from Rio de Janeiro, who had never previously won a match at the Banana Bowl having lost in the first round in 2004 and 2005, trailed 4-1 in the opening set. However, after calming her early nerves Duarte came through to change the record with a 75 64 victory.
Big hope Fernanda Hermenegildo defeated compatriot Lara Rafful 61 61 to advance to the second round where she will face last year’s champion Sharon Fichman of Canada who is ranked 12 in the world. The Canadian defeated USA’s Christala Andrews 63 63.
Promising number one French player Alize Cornet had very little trouble in easing into the second round with a convincing 62 60 victory over Mexico’s Nazari Urbina. The sixteen year old clay-courter from Nice, who has a genuine chance to progress at the event was very pleased to get off to a winning start: “I have not played any other tournaments on the South American circuit (this year) but I came to the Banana Bowl because I love Brazil and this tournament is one of the most important. Last year I lost in the first round and therefore I am happy to have won a match.”
Katerina Vankova of the Czech Republic also advanced after a 61 61 defeat of Romania’s Irina Paraschiv while Klaudia Boczova (SVK) beat Japan’s main hope, Emiko Ito, 63 64. After a difficult first set, Julia Cohen (USA) also progressed following a 67 60 62 victory over Czech Republic’s Andrea Berkova.
In the boys’ singles event one of the tournament favourites, Pavel Chekov of Russia, defeated USA’s Drew Daniel 63 64 to move through to the round of 32. Likewise Venezuela’s Roberto Maytin overcame Brazil’s Bruno Hertwig by the same score line. Andrei Martin of Slovak Republic faced a difficult test against Austria’s David Simon but in the end prevailed 76(6) 16 63. Meanwhile, USA’s Nathaniel Schnugg beat Brazil’s Carlos Machado 76(2) 63 while his compatriot Clint Bowles was upset by Spain’s Albert Ramos who moved into the second round with a 63 76(1) victory.
Brazil’s Daniel Silva overcame David Rice of Great Britain 63 75 while Andre Pinheiro (BRA) defeated Ricardo Hernandez (VEN) 46 62 64. With the likes of Nicolas Santos and Joao-Olavo Souza, who are yet to play, these players will be vying to become the first Brazilian boys’ Banana Bowl Champion since Eduardo Oncins in 1981. Also, yet to grace the courts are Teliana Pereira and Roxane Vaisemberg who, along with Duarte and Hermenegildo, are the main Brazilian prospects for a girls’ champion since 1991 when Roberta Burzagli triumphed.
Check the ITF Juniors website for daily reports and photos…
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