 Photographer: Francesco Panunzio
Date: 26 May 2008 |  Photographer: Francesco Panunzio
Date: 27 May 2008 |  Photographer: Francesco Panunzio
Date: 27 May 2008 |  Photographer: Francesco Panunzio
Date: 27 May 2008 |  Photographer: Francesco Panunzio
Date: 27 May 2008 |  Photographer: Francesco Panunzio
Date: 27 May 2008 |  Photographer: Francesco Panunzio
Date: 27 May 2008 |  Photographer: Francesco Panunzio
Date: 27 May 2008 |  Photographer: Francesco Panunzio
Date: 26 May 2008 |
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| 27 May 2008 - James McGurran | |
| Pella & Halep claim first titles in Milan |
Five of the worlds top ten boys and four of the world’s top ten girls were in action, including both undefeated Australian Open champions, Bernard Tomic (AUS) and Arantxa Rus (NED). Several of the Central & South American clay court champions, such as Aranza Salut (ARG) in the girls’ event and Jose Pereira (BRA) in the boys’ event were also expected to challenge the top seeds.
In comparison, Guido Pella was an unknown quantity going into the tournament, with no previous ITF Juniors Circuit history, but gained entry via the qualifying draw, based upon his ATP ranking of 606. Meanwhile, Simona Halep had appeared sparingly on the circuit this year with a loss in the final at Nottinghill (AUS) followed by a semifinal loss at the Australian Open, and was seeded tenth.
The loss of an unprecedented number of seeded players in the first round – over half were defeated - immediately changed the tournament, providing an unexpected opportunity to several players. Wild card Alessandro Giannessi (ITA) delighted the crowds with his early victories, playing as if he had just been told that all three boys Grade A titles this year had been won by players from the host nation and it was his destiny to make it four. But it was Guido Pella and David Goffin (BEL) who took their chances.
Pella benefitted from the lack of seeded opposition in those early rounds but still dominated his first four opponents, not losing a set. His first test did not come until the quarterfinal, when he faced second seed Cesar Ramirez (MEX). Pella’s domination of one of the favourites was complete as he won 60 60. In his semifinal he was pushed to a third set tie-break by Andrey Kuzentsov (RUS), but Pella won through to the final by the slimmest of margins, 36 62 76(5).
In the final he met unseeded David Goffin (BEL) who had earlier conquered top seed Bernard Tomic (AUS) in almost as convincing a style as Pella, with a 62 60 victory. Goffin also overcame the challenge of thirteenth seed Henrique Cunha (BRA) and ended crowd favourite Alessandro Giannessi hopes en route to his first final. With both players looking for their first ITF Junior career titles neither was able to establish dominance as the match swung one way and then the other, 61 to Pella and then 26 to Goffin and finally 63 to Pella, who claimed an historic victory and his first Grade A title, his first title of any Grade on the ITF Juniors Circuit, in his first outing.
Simona Halep (ROU) extended her win loss record to 15-2 on the ITF Junior Circuit this year by winning the girls’ singles event. Having already defeated fourth seed Cindy Chala (FRA), sixth seed Ksenia Lykina (RUS) and crowd favourite Natassya Burnett (ITA), Halep then faced third seed Bojana Jovanovski (SRB) in the final.
Having finished as the runner up in last years’ event, holding the best clay court record of all the top girls before the tournament, the world number five, Bojana Jovanovski, was installed as the new favourite after the first round losses for top seeds Rus & Lertcheewakarn. She lived up to the expectations as she powered her way to the final without losing a set en route.
However, with both players in good form and both looking for their first Grade A title, it was the Romanian who claimed victory with a convincing 64 61win.
Arantxa Rus (NED) made up for a disappointing singles event by partnering Lesley Kerkhove (NED) to a 60 64 victory against Richel Hogenkamp (NED) and Laura Robson (GBR) in the girls doubles final. South American top seeds Henrique Cunha (BRA) & Cesar Ramirez (MEX) comfortably beat British pair Neil Pauffley & Marcus Willis in the boys doubles final 62 61.
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