 Photographer: Corinne Dubreuil
Date: 24 Jan 2007 |  Photographer: Corinne Dubreuil
Date: 24 Jan 2007 |  Photographer: Corinne Dubreuil
Date: 21 Jan 2007 |  Photographer: Corinne Dubreuil
Date: 23 Jan 2007 |  Photographer: Corinne Dubreuil
Date: 23 Jan 2007 |  Photographer: Corinne Dubreuil
Date: 23 Jan 2007 |
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| 24 Jan 2007 - Melbourne, Australia - Eleanor Preston |  Related Audio |
| Klein KOs Klizan |
 ITF JUNIOR RADIO SHOW WEDNESDAY AUSTRALIAN OPEN 07 (MP3 format)
An Interview with Brydan Klein (MP3 format)
An Interview with Alize Cornet (MP3 format)
 
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A trio of Australians sent shockwaves through the junior Australian Open tournament at Melbourne Park on Wednesday by knocking out three of the more fancied contenders in the boys’ draw.
Brydon Klein began the trend by knocking out the tournament’s second seed, reigning junior Roland Garros champion Martin Klizan of Slovakia 62 67 61. Klein will take on fellow Australian (and ITF Juniors' resident blogger) Greg Jones in the quarterfinals to ensure that the home nation will have at least one player in the last four. Jones knocked out Italy’s ninth seed Matteo Trevisan 64 36 60. John-Patrick Smith completed the set of giant-killing Australians by beating fourth seed Petru-Alexandru Luncanu 76 64 setting up a quarterfinal against Italy’s Thomas Fabbiano.
“It was a big win. Klizan had a big year in 2006 and he’s a good player, but I went out there thinking that I was going to win because you always have to think positive,” said 17-year-old Klein, who hails from the Western Australian city of Perth. “I played well. I let it slip a little bit in the second set but I ended up coming out on top in the end. I was really happy about that. I got a bit angry in the second set but I don’t think it affected me. Even though I got upset I think I did a good job managing my emotions. I got angry, got back onto the next point and bounced back to play a really good third set. I can use that fire and I can play well when I get angry but I still think I play my best tennis when I’m relaxed so I like to try and control myself if I can.”
Klein said the Australian players receive a lift from playing at Melbourne Park, especially since the junior event is traditionally very well supported by Australian tennis fans, who seem to relish the chance to see the stars of the future performing at one of the sports most famous venues. “It’s a good feeling,” said Klein. “I played here last year too and it’s good getting the crowd behind you. It’s always a home advantage. Other players get a bit frustrated when everyone is barracking for you but it’s a really good feeling when you a winning. The crowd enjoys it and you enjoy it.”
Second seed Jonathan Eysseric avoided being amongst the upsets, but he was made to work hard by Daniel-Alejandro Lopez of Italy, eventually coming through 76 76. Eysseric will play Yan Bai of China next. Czech third seed Roman Jebavy was too strong of Japan’s Hiroko Moriya, beating him 63 63 and will play Ricardas Berankis for a place in the last four.
USA’s Chelsey Gullickson is the only unseeded player in what is a high class line-up for the girls’ quarter-finals. Gullickson, who beat Australia’s Alison Bai 61 64, will play France’s Alize Cornet for a place in the semifinals. In the other last eight clashes scheduled for Thursday at Melbourne Park, top seed and defending champion Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova takes on Austrian Nicola Hofmanova; Poland’s Urzsula Radwanska plays Belarussian Ksenia Milevskaya and Russian Evgeniya Rodina takes on the USA’s Madison Brengle.
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