 Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 08 Aug 2006 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 08 Aug 2006 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 08 Aug 2006 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 08 Aug 2006 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 08 Aug 2006 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 08 Aug 2006 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 08 Aug 2006 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 08 Aug 2006 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 08 Aug 2006 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 08 Aug 2006 |
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| 08 Aug 2006 - Prostejov, Czech Republic - Isabelle Gemmel | |
| Upsets reign on Tuesday as play moves indoors |
After five days of uninterrupted rain in Prostejov and a complete washout on the first day of the competition, the tournament committee decided to move the matches to indoor courts.
The matches of the first round were played at three venues: the two indoor courts (one hard court and one carpet court) of TK Plus in Prostejov, the three indoor carpet courts of TK Moskovice and the three hard courts of TK Prerov.
The draw decided that all girls’ matches would be played on hard court while all boys’ matches would be played on carpet. All matches were played using the Short Sets Alternative Scoring Method.
GIRLS
In the girls’ competition, the opening match of group A on the indoor hard court at TK Prostejov provided a lot of suspense. Beatrice Capra (USA) won the first singles between the number two players against Sabine van der Sar (NED) in straight sets, but the Dutch number one player, Richel Hogenkamp, levelled the tie when she defeated Christina McHale. Hogenkamp and van der Sar together won the deciding doubles match after having lost the first set in the tiebreak to create a little upset, as USA is eighth seed.
Indonesia and France completed the Group A ties at at the indoor hard courts of TK Prerov, situated some 40 km away from Prostejov. Number 1 seed France were on form, sealing a 30 victory in the tie with Chloe Babet beating Indonesia’s Laila Rachmawati Ulfa in the first match. The next two matches were closer, both of them going to tie breaks.
Group B and C was also played in Prerov. All ties went according to the seeding in group B with Uzbekistan defeating Chile 30 and Ukraine overcoming South Africa with the same score line.
The Russian girls dominated their first round match against Argentina 30, while Thailand created the surprise of group C by defeating the highly estimated and third seeded Polish girls. The tie was decided after the Thai girls clinched both singles.
Group D saw another tight match on the indoor hard court of TK Prostejov. Hosts Czech Republic took on the winner of the South American qualifying event, Paraguay. While Klara Kobrivova (CZE) brought the hosts in the lead, Veronica Cepede (PAR) defeated Dominica Schlehoferova in straight sets. Cepede and Robbiani won the doubles with their powerful strokes, confirming their sixth seed position.
The other match of the group was played at TK Prerov and second seed Canada had to fight very hard to overcome the Chinese team. Katarena Paliivets (CAN) unexpectedly lost to Xin Wen (CHN), but Gabriela Dabrowski levelled with a convincing win over Xi Bai. The doubles was only decided in the third set that Dabrowski and Paliivets won with the scoreline of 53.
BOYS
In the boys’ event, the first match of group B was played on the indoor carpet court of TK Prostejov. The Czech team were never in danger to lose any of their matches against Mexico, the runner-up of the North-Central America & Caribbean final qualifying event. The Czech team won the tie 30.
The second match of group B took place at TK Mostkovice. Fourth seed Italy scored a 30 victory over India and underlined their ambition to make it to the semi-finals. Giacomo Miccini (ITA) kept his opponent, Jugal Marfatia, at bay thanks to powerful serving in the first match. Yuki Bhambri (IND) was the only Indian to get close to winning a set against Italy’s number one, Federico Gaio, losing the first set only in the tiebreak.
Group A was the second group to be played in Mostkovice. Top seed Russia were facing the Spanish team with current European Individual Champion Carlos Boluda. Boluda dominated Ashot Khacharyan (RUS) easily to level the tie after Richard Muzaev had defeated Ivan Sanchez (ESP) in the opening singles of the day.
The deciding doubles went to the Russians who were visibly more comfortable on the carpet than their Iberian opponents.
On the next court, China won the tie 21 over Venezuela. In the first match, Bei Liu (CHN) beat Michael Cressevich (VEN). Venezuela managed to level the score in the next match thanks to a consistent effort by David Souto who won in a very close match over China’s Zheng-Yu Liu. In the Doubles, Venezuela looked like the stronger team, taking the first set, but then losing the next two.
Group C was played at TK Mostkovice and saw victories for Japan and Brazil. Japan enjoyed a 21 victory in their tie against Germany with Shu Saito beating Kevin Krawietz in the first match. Dominik Schulz of Germany made up for the defeat in the first match by beating Yasutaka Uchimaya in the second. However, by winning the doubles in three sets, Japan triumphed overall in the tie 21.
In the other Group C tie, Brazil defeated Morocco 30. All three matches were won in straight sets by Brazil. Changes to nominated players in both teams resulted in both number 3 players competing in the first match: Matheus Junqueira beating Othman Lalami.
Group D teams Argentina and Hungary also played at TK Mostkovice. Hungary won their first two matches, both in two sets, but were overpowered in the doubles when Argentina’s Federico Coria and Agustin Velotti won in three sets, beating Levente Godry and Mate Zsiga, resulting in an overall 21 win for Hungary.
Also in Group D, number 2 seed USA took on New Zealand on the indoor carpet court at TK Prostejov. The first match set the tone for the rest of the tie with all being close 3 set matches. Despite losing the first set, New Zealand’s Ben McLachlan managed a 3 set win over Raymond Sarmiento. In the second match, Sebastian Lavie took on Ryan Harrison. Lavie started off the match with a series of aces and took the first set easily. However he had his work cut out for him in the second, as Harrison found his form and went 42 up. In the final set, despite saving one match point, Lavie was unable to prevent Harrison sealing this victory for the USA team.
The Doubles match could not have been closer. Using the same players as the singles ties, again New Zealand looked stronger in the first set. The second set went to tie-break and USA managed to take it 75. In the final set, excellent teamwork , well-placed smashes and returns from both sides resulted in an extremely exciting 97 victory for New Zealand.
Results can be found below.
Related Articles
> World Junior Tennis Finals get underway in Czech Republic
> 2006 World Junior Tennis Competition Finals
> Players Blog from World Junior Tennis Finals
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