 Photographer: Poa Press
Date: 29 Mar 2007 |  Photographer: Poa Press
Date: 29 Mar 2007 |  Photographer: Hiromasa Mano
Date: 09 Oct 2007 |  Photographer: Hiromasa Mano
Date: 15 Oct 2007 |  Photographer: Corinne Dubreuil
Date: 24 Jan 2008 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 23 Jan 2008 |
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| 15 Mar 2008 - James McGurran | |
| Gerdau Cup Preview |
Some of the world best junior players will form part of a world-class field in Porto Alegre, Brazil next week for the Gerdau Cup, South America’s premier juniors event. The Grade A tournament, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, will provide an early indicator of who will challenge the top ranked juniors in 2008.
In 2007, victory at the Gerdau Cup was the basis for Uladzimir Ignatik to begin his ascent to the very top of the boys’ rankings, and in his absence this year, Marcelo Arevalo (ESA) is the top seed. The current Central American & Caribbean champion has already claimed his first title of the year with victory at the Grade 2 Inka Bowl in Peru and the clay court specialist will be keen to emulate Ignatik with victory at the Gerdau Cup after a string of strong performances on clay in 2008.
The boys’ draw is dominated by players currently enjoying success on the clay courts of South America, suggesting the draw could be one of the most open in several years. Most notable in this group is Argentinian Juan Vazquez-Valenzuela who is currently in excellent form with an impressive clay court record of 17-3 in 2008, including a win and one runner up finish in Grade 2 events and runner up finish at a Grade 1 event already this year. At the time of writing Vazquez Valenzuela and Arevalo were on course to meet in the semifinal of the Grade 1 Banana Bowl.
There is a strong European presence in the boys draw, making up half of the seeds. Alexandre Folie (BEL), who has already claimed the title at the Grade 1 Copa Gatorade in Venezuela this year, leads the European contenders for the title. American interest comes in the form of Ty Trombetta. The 28th ranked player was unfortunate to have to retire due to injury in his last Grade A event appearance, in the semifinal of the Casablanca Cup, and is looking to make amends for his first round loss in this event last year.
In the girls’ event, last year’s winner Cindy Chala (FRA) returns to defend her title. The world number 16 has already claimed a title at the Grade 1 event in Traralgon, Australia this year, before a disappointing performance at the Australian Open. Chala will need to be at the top of her game if she is to defend her title, as she is joined at the Gerdau Cup by world number 9, Bojana Jovanovski (SRB). Since losing to Chala in the semifinal of this event last year, the Serbian has risen one hundred and eleven places in the rankings, claimed a Grade 1 title and runner up spot in a Grade A tournament and recently only lost to Arantxa Rus (NED), the eventual champion, at the Australian Open. Jovanovski will be looking to cement her place in the top ten and claim her first career Grade A title at the Gerdau Cup.
The Gerdau Cup has drawn the winners of many of South America’s top tournaments. Ana Bogdan (ROU) the current Coffee Bowl champion and her compatriot Elena Bogdan (ROU), the Uruguay Bowl champion will both feature, as will Johanna Konta (GBR) the runner up at the Grade 1 Asuncion Bowl this year. All will be looking to take another step at the Gerdau Cup and claim a first career Grade A title.
South American interest is in the form of Aranxa Salut (ARG). Salut has built an impressive 18-5 record on clay this year, which has led her to claim a title and two runner-up finishes in Grade 2 events, all on clay. Other players who should be in contention for the title include Mallory Burdette (USA) and Peru’s Bianca Botto. Botto claimed the Grade 1 Asuncion Bowl title earlier this month.
Daily results and reports from the Gerdau Cup will be available on www.itftennis.com/juniors
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