 Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 12 Aug 2006 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 12 Aug 2006 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 11 Aug 2006 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 12 Aug 2006 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 12 Aug 2006 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 12 Aug 2006 |
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| 12 Aug 2006 - Anna Reed & Isabelle Gemmel | |
| Italy and Ukraine win World Junior Tennis Finals |
The World Junior Tennis Final by Ceska Sporitelna came to a close today with the finals in both the boys and girls competition, as well as the placement ties to determine the final standings from position 3 to 16.
Italy in the boys and Ukraine in the girls are the winners of the ITF world team competition of boys and girls aged 14 and under.
BOYS
The final between Italy and Japan was decided already after the singles rubbers. Giacomo Micchini defeated Shu Saito (JPN) in straight sets in the opening match on Centre Court.
In the match between the two top players, the tall Yasatuka Uchiyama (JPN) showed some resistance to the powerful play of Federico Gaio. In the tiebreak of the first set the Italian boy from the Faenza came back from 03 to win the tiebreak with 74. Gaio won the second set with the score of 64 and upon completion jumped into the arms of his delighted captain Enrico Slomp. It is only the second time after 1994 that the Italians clinch the boys’ title.
The Russian boys won the placement tie for the bronze medals by defeating the team from New Zealand. Richard Muzaev defeated Ben Mc Lachlan in straight sets. In the following singles Alexander Rumyantsev (RUS) saved a match point against Sebastian Lavie (NZL) before he could win the match 86 in the third set.
GIRLS
The final between Ukraine and Russia was an exciting affair. In the first singles between Lyudmyla Kichenok (UKR) and Anastasia Mukhametova (RUS), a tight first set ended in a tie-break, won 7-4 by Kichenok, who then proceeded to take the second set 63. Russia then had to win the second singles in order to have a chance at 1st place. Russia’s Yana Buchina stepped up to the challenge and swiftly defeated Nadiya Kichenok 62 62. All depended on the teams’ final performance in the doubles. Ukraine stormed through the first set 61 and then took the second 63. A delighted Ukraine team proudly took the 1st prize trophy and received their gold medals at this afternoon's closing ceremony.
The tie for the much-prized 3rd place was battled out between Canada and Netherlands. Khristina Blakjevitch (CAN) made light work of Yvette Vlaar (NED) winning 62 62. Richel Hogenkamp (NED) once again impressed in the second singles with a 61 64 win over Gabriela Dabrowski. The deciding doubles was won in straight sets by Netherlands, who took 3rd place on the podium.
The tie for 16th place, which determines next year’s regional allocation was fiercely contested by South Africa and Argentina. A second set tie-break in the deciding doubles was won by Argentina after South Africa had taken the first set. Argentina managed another victory in the third set tie-break to secure overall victory. Thanks to this victory by Argentina, South America will again be entitled to three spots in next year's event.
Full results can be found below shortly.
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> 2006 World Junior Tennis Competition Finals
> Players Blog from World Junior Tennis Finals
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