 Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 16 Mar 2006 |  Photographer: Marcelo Ruschel
Date: 14 Mar 2006 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 28 Sep 2004 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 28 Sep 2005 |  Photographer: Eleanor Preston
Date: 10 Dec 2005 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 25 Jun 2005 |
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| 17 Mar 2006 - Will Fletcher | |
| Romanians On Course At Banana Bowl |
Top seeds Petru-Alexandru Luncanu and Alexandra Dulgheru are through to the last eight of the boys’ and girls’ singles competitions in South America’s premier junior tennis tournament.
The Romanian favourites, both currently ranked eighth in their respective World rankings, have come through some tough early tests and as the Banana Bowl enters its final few days they are both on course for their first Grade A victories.
However, only when Petru-Alexandru Luncanu upped the tempo of his third round encounter with Argentina’s Juan Manuel Romanazzi after splitting sets, did he take firm control of the match and its outcome. The Romanian eventually ensured safe passage into the quarterfinals with a 63 36 62 victory.
Roman Jebavy of the Czech Republic will be there to meet him after undergoing a similar trial from Italian Matteo Trevisan. The 16 year old Czech player, who has never advanced this far in a Grade A event, triumphed 64 36 62.
In contrast to her compatriot, Alexandra Dulgheru had an easier ride in the third round. After making light work of her Slovakian opponent Monika Kochanova, who she overcame comfortably 60 62, she finds herself facing the sixth seeded Brazilian Roxane Vaisemberg who has progressed thus far untroubled.
The winner of that quarterfinal will face either Bolivia’s Maria-Fernanda Alvarez Teran, who knocked out another home favourite Ana-Clara Duarte 76(7) 62 in the third round, or USA’s Julia Cohen. The American overcame the Bolivian in three sets at the same stage of Peru’s Grade 2 Inka Bowl in early February so she will fancy her chances of repeating that success and advancing to the semis.
Elsewhere in the girls’ draw Alize Cornet of France has lived up to expectations and is still in with a chance after impressively knocking out Brazil’s biggest hope in the girls’ competition, Teliana Pereira, 62 60. She will take on Italian Roxana Vaideanu for a place in the last four. The final place in the girls’ semifinals will be contested by defending champion and second seed Sharon Fichman and the Slovak Republic’s Kristina Kucova.
While it is of little surprise that Joao Souza is still flying the flag for Brazil’s boys after defeating Miloslav Mecir (SVK) 60 75, few would have put money on his compatriot Fernando Romboli making it through to the last eight after defeating fellow Brazilian Pedro Feitosa 64 46 62. He will face Ecuadorian Jean-Michel Durango while Souza takes on Ricardo Urzua of Chile ensuring there will be two South Americans in the last four. The other quarterfinal will be played between Spain’s Albert Ramos and Italy’s Thomas Fabbiano.
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