 Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 06 Sep 2006 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 08 Sep 2006 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 08 Sep 2006 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 08 Sep 2006 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 08 Sep 2006 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 08 Sep 2006 |
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| 08 Sep 2006 - Flushing Meadows, New York - Eleanor Preston | |
| Young hurries into semis |
Reigning ITF Junior World Champion Donald Young turned 17 just before this US Open and he seems determined to mark his birthday with a glittering performance at his home junior grand slam. Young, seeded fourth at Flushing Meadows, fired his way into the semi-finals on Friday with a 7-6, 6-3 win over Pavel Chekhov of Russia.
The win over Chekhov was another sign that the teenager from Atlanta is ready to recapture the form that saw him win the 2005 boys’ Australian Open title and become Junior World No.1. He has, though, a difficult semi-final in prospect on Saturday against Peter Polansky of Canada, whose form at this tournament puts him amongst the favourites for the title. Polansky was too strong for the Czech Republic’s Roman Jebavy, putting in another accomplished performance for a 7-6, 6-1 win.
Luka Belic of Croatia will take on Czech Dusan Lojda in the other boys’ semi-final. Belic was a surprising 6-4, 6-4 winner over second seed Jonathan Eysseric of France; Lojda eased past Artem Smirnov of the Ukraine 6-2, 6-2.
Young has grown both figuratively and literally in the last year. He is now touching six foot tall, thus silencing critics who suggested that he would never be robust enough for an increasingly physically demanding sport. Young’s game has also been developing along with his body. After receiving a wildcard into the main draw at the US Open from the Unites States Tennis Association, he won a set against 19-year-old Serbian Novak Djokovic, an experience which appears to have helped on his return to the juniors at Flushing Meadows.
Young still feels he has work to do though. “Mostly just get physically stronger, develop,” said Young, when asked what was on his to-do list. “I want to be able to last out there longer like the rest of them. Game wise, getting better with things I do. I have to work on my game. Hit a lot of serves from the basket, work on forehands, backhands, and volleys. Everything. I like the US Open. I like hard court. It’s my favourite surface.”
Young’s feat in making the last four was matched by another American, Lauren Albanese, who earned herself a first junior grand slam semi-final with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Petra Martic of Croatia. Albanese, who is unseeded, will play Austria’s Tamira Paszek for a place in the final after Paszek beat Sacha Jones of New Zealand 6-1, 6-2.
Russian top seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova will take on Czech Katerina Vankova after both won through compelling quarterfinals on Friday. Pavlyuchenkova, who could secure the year junior World No.1 ranking if she wins the title in New York, squeaked past experienced Romanian Raluca Olaru 7-5, 3-6, 6-3. Vankova had to battle past feisty Canadian Sharon Fichman (who, incidentally, is Pavlyuchenkova’s doubles partner) with a 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 win.
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