 Photographer: Corinne Dubreuil
Date: 27 Jan 2009 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 23 Sep 2008 |  Photographer: Sergio Llamera
Date: 24 Sep 2008 |  Photographer: Corinne Dubreuil
Date: 28 Jan 2009 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 05 May 2006 |  Photographer: Marcelo Ruschel
Date: 24 Mar 2008 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 26 Jan 2009 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 23 Sep 2008 |
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| 19 Mar 2009 - ITF - James Harrisson | |
| Mladenovic and Collarini head Copa Gerdau field |
The South American 18&Under Circuit reaches a climax next week, as the world’s top juniors gather to contest the Grade A Copa Gerdau.
The COSAT circuit has seen 10 successive tournaments played in all 10 South American countries and, following a warm up at the prestigious Banana Bowl, the clay courts of the Asociaçao Leopoldina Juvenil in Porto Alegre, Brasil, will play host to the continent’s showcase event.
France’s Kristina Mladenovic is top seed in the girl’s event, having reached the quarterfinal stage at this year’s Australian Open. Mladenovic has three career ITFJunior titles but her best result at the top level came at last year’s US Open, where she reached the semifinals. Veronica Cepede (PAR) will be seeded No.2 and could pose the most serious threat to the French top seed. However, despite reaching the quarterfinal stage of four ITF Junior tournaments this year, the Paraguayan will need to find more consistency if she is to challenge for the title.
The form player in the girls’ draw is Chilean Camila Silva, seeded three, who claimed two titles and reached one final before heading to Brasil and clearly feels at home on the South American clay. Fourth seed Ulrikke Eikeri of Norway could also be a threat after winning consecutive titles in Ecuador and Peru earlier this year.
Amongst the other hopefuls for the girls’ crown are Valeria Solovieva (RUS), finalist at this year’s Grade 1 Coffee Bowl; Silvia Njiric (CRO), who tasted some success in Europe and Africa last year but has yet to make a mark in the Americas; Paula Ormaechea (ARG), winner of the Grade 2 Uruguay Bowl; and Alejandra Granillo (MEX),
Favourite to claim the boys’ crown will be Argintine Andrea Collarini, who has already picked up three titles this year and has not been eliminated before the quarterfinal stage in any tournament since the Copa Gerdau last year. Seeded second will be France’s Julien Obry, who posted a 13-2 record in the Australian junior circuit this year but is lacking match practice on clay.
Seeded three will be defending champion and home favourite Jose Pereira, who began the year ranked No.4 but has chosen not to defend most of his points from last year. Victory in Paraguay earlier this month shows Pereira is in good form and keen to retain his title. Fourth seed Agustin Velotti (ARG) reached the final at the Grade A Casablanca Cup and has consolidated his ranking with some strong performances on the COSAT circuit, including finishing runner up at the Grade 1 in Venezuela.
Other boys’ who could challenge for the title are Arthur De Greef (BEL), who lost to Velotti in the semifinals at Casablanca and is 13-4 this year; Shuichi Sekigucki (JPN), who won most of his ranking point on the Asian hard courts last year but has struggled so far to make the transition to clay; Yannick Reuter (BEL), beaten finalist at the recent Grade 1 in Colombia; and Kevin Konfederak (ARG), who has reached two semifinals and two quarterfinals this year but has not won a title since the start of 2008.
For daily reports and results visit www.itftennis.com/juniors
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