 Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 23 Sep 2008 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 23 Sep 2008 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 02 Sep 2008 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 17 Mar 2008 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 01 Jul 2008 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 09 Aug 2007 |
|
| 24 Mar 2009 - ITF - James McGurran | |
| Day 1 Sees Seeds Safely Through at Copa Gerdau |
The South American 18&Under Circuit reaches a climax this week, as the world’s top juniors gather to contest the Grade A Copa Gerdau.
Play began on the clay courts of the Asociaçao Leopoldina Juvenil in Porto Alegre, Brasil, yesterday, with half of the boys and girls singles first round being played.
Veronica Cepede (PAR), seeded No.2, faced Agustina Sol Eskenazi (ARG). Cepede is seen as the major threat to top seed Kristina Mladenovic’s chances of winning the title. Despite being ranked 124 places below Cepede, Eskenazi made the Paraguayan work hard for a three set victory 75 57 62. The ground out nature of the victory for Cepede will not allay doubts about her consistency at the top level.
Fourth seed Ulrikke Eikeri (NOR) stormed through her first round match with Marie Casares (ECU) 61 60, continuing her excellent pre-tournament form. Uruguay Bowl champion Paula Ormaechea (ARG, seeded sixth, also progressed easily 61 61 against Noel Scott (USA). Tenth seed Kristina Paliivets (CAN), tenth seed, defeated Nicole Bartnik (USA) 75 75. The remaining seeds in action all booked their places in the second round. Alexandra Krunic (SRB), Nataliya Pintusova (BLR), Vaszilisza Bulgakova (HUN) and Cecilia Costa (CHI) seeded eleventh, twelfth, fifteenth & sixteenth respectively all recorded straight sets victories. Top seed Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) plays later today.
The form player in the girls’ draw is Chilean Camila Silva, seeded three, who claimed two titles and reached one final before heading to Brazil and clearly feels at home on the South American clay. Her first round match against Fernanda Faria (BRA) will take place later today.
Andrea Collarini, the favourite to claim the boys’ crown, defeated David Sofaer (AUS) 76(5) 64 in his first round match. Collarini 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.
Fourth seed Agustin Velotti (ARG) beat Duilio Beretta (PER) 64 62, whilst ninth seed Hiroyasu Ehara (JPN) defeated Garret Brasseaux (USA) 62 61.
Defending champion and home favourite Jose Pereira, plays later today. Victory in Paraguay earlier this month shows Pereira is in good form and keen to retain his title.
For daily reports and results visit www.itftennis.com/juniors
Related Articles
> Mladenovic and Collarini head Copa Gerdau field
^ Back to Top
|
