 Photographer: juniortennis.com
Date: 10 Dec 2007 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 03 Jul 2007 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 03 Sep 2007 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 05 Sep 2007 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 05 Sep 2007 |  Photographer: Francesco Panunzio
Date: 23 May 2007 |
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| 10 Dec 2007 - Helen McFetridge | |
| Berankis and Larcher de Brito are Orange Bowl champions |
Ricardas Berankis (LTU) claimed the Orange Bowl title at the weekend and in so doing overtook Uladzimir Ignatik (BLR) at the top of the world rankings. The girls’ title went to Michelle Larcher de Brito (POR), who ended American Melanie Oudin’s 27-match winning streak on the ITF Junior Circuit.
Berankis went into the tournament knowing that if he was to have any chance of ending the year as world number one, he had to win the Orange Bowl and hope current number one Igantik lost before the semi-finals. Ignatik’s doubles partner Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) took care of the second half of the equation by beating him in the quarters, and then stood in Berankis’s way in yesterday’s final. In complete contrast to his semi-final against Jarmere Jenkins (USA), when he faced defeat at 25 down in the third set before his opponent succumbed to cramp and had to retire at 5-5, Berankis was never in trouble in the final. Dimitrov started slowly and never got going, as the Lithuanian eased to a 63 62 win.
Berankis has now taken over the number one spot for the first time, after Ignatik had held it since winning Roland Garros in June. Both players are in action this week at the Yucatan Cup in Mexico, the last Grade 1 of the year, where the world champion will be crowned. If either Ignatik or defending champion Berankis wins the title, they will clinch the top spot. However, as Berankis has points to defend from last year while Ignatik can only add points, things get more complicated if either fails to win. Berankis can hold on to the top ranking if he finishes runner-up in the singles and wins the doubles, and if Ignatik loses before the semi-finals of the singles and the final of the doubles. Any other scenario would lead to Ignatik taking over at number one.
The big story going into the girls’ singles final was whether eighth seed Melanie Oudin could make it 28 matches and five tournaments in a row on the ITF Junior Circuit. After her impressive win over world number one Urszula Radwanska (POL) in the quarters and her 60 60 demolition of compatriot Mallory Cecil in the semis, few would have bet against her, particularly when she jumped out to a 30 lead over ninth seed Michelle Larcher de Brito (POR) in the final. However, Larcher de Brito, who had failed to win a junior tournament in over a year despite making news on the WTA circuit, fought her way back into the match and ended up a 75 63 winner.
Oudin gained some consolation for her singles loss when she teamed up with Mallory Cecil to defeat fellow Americans Coco Vandeweghe and Allie Will in the doubles final. The boys’ doubles was won by Roman Jebavy (CZE) and Vasek Pospisil (CAN), who beat the Australian pairing of John Patrick Smith and Matt Reid in three sets.
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