 Photographer: Corinne Dubreuil
Date: 29 Jan 2009 |  Photographer: Corinne Dubreuil
Date: 29 Jan 2009 |  Photographer: Corinne Dubreuil
Date: 29 Jan 2009 |  Photographer: Corinne Dubreuil
Date: 29 Jan 2009 |  Photographer: Corinne Dubreuil
Date: 29 Jan 2009 |  Photographer: Corinne Dubreuil
Date: 29 Jan 2009 |  Photographer: Corinne Dubreuil
Date: 29 Jan 2009 |  Photographer: Corinne Dubreuil
Date: 29 Jan 2009 |
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| 29 Jan 2009 - Melbourne, Australia - Eleanor Preston | |
| Lertcheewakarn sets up Robson rematch |
History will repeat itself at the junior Australian Open on Friday when Thailand’s Noppawan Lertcheewakarn and Briton Laura Robson meet again in the semifinals, seven months after facing each other in the junior Wimbledon final.
On another blistering day at Melbourne Park, Lertcheewakarn set up her rematch with Robson by whipping past Anna Orlik of Belarus 61 60. Robson did not find life nearly so easy against last year’s Roland Garros runner-up Elena Bogdan of Romania but their battle – played in a sweltering 42 degrees – was cut short when Bogdan sustained a nasty fall and ricked her ankle towards the end of the second set, with the score at 5-2 in the Romanian’s favour after Robson had won the first. “It was unfortunate for her because if she could have carried on playing she would have had a really good chance in the third set,” said Robson sportingly. “She couldn’t even walk at the end. She was really sad afterwards and I really feel for her.”
Lertcheewakarn was about the only person at Melbourne Park showing no signs of suffering in the heat. The tournament’s top seed says she feels at home in the steamy temperatures and her resistance to the brutal conditions may be her biggest asset as the tournament moves towards its conclusion. “I think this weather might help me,” said Lertcheewakarn. “I’m very used to heat from practicing and playing a lot in Thailand so that could be an advantage.”
Lertcheewakarn, who was last year’s ITF Junior World Champion, says she relishes her memories of playing Robson in the junior Wimbledon final last year, even though the British girl made the most of the noisy support of No.1 Court to claim the title. “I’m so excited to have played that final. It was amazing. Every time she won a point there was such a big cheer. It was great experience. Wimbledon is my favourite grand slam but I want to win a junior grand slam because this is my last year in juniors and I don’t really mind which one!”
Lertcheewakarn is nicknamed ‘Nok’ to make her name easy to handle. It is a popular name in Thailand and means ‘bird’ in Thai. Lertcheewakarn’s father gave it to her because she was born in the morning, when birds sing. The teenager is already becoming better known in her home nation and is hoping to follow in the footsteps of famous compatriots like Paradorn Srichaphan and Tamarine Tanasugarn. “I have practiced with Tamarine a lot and she has given me lots of advice and it has really helped” said Lertcheewakarn. “She is my idol.”
There was better news for Ana Bogdan, no relation to Elena, who earned her place in the girls’ semifinals with a 64 62 win over France’s Kristina Mladenovic.
In Friday’s boys’ semifinals, top seed Yuki Bhambri of India will take on Adrien Puget of France after both scored wins. Puget beat Russian Mikhal Biryukov 64 62, while Bhambri dispatched Germany’s Richard Becker 61 75.
German Alexandros-Fernandos Georgoudas battled through against Cheng-Peng Hsieh of Chinese Taipei to make his first junior grand slam semifinal and afterwards was given the best preparation for his semifinal when he was invited to practice with World No.2 Roger Federer.The German will take on Julen Uriguen of Guatamala following Urigen’s 64 60 quarterfinal victory over Julien Obry of France.
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