Dzhenev puts friendship aside to progress in AO boys' singles
Bulgaria’s Adriano Dzhenev arrived in Australia this month as part of the Grand Slam Player Development Programme/ITF Touring Team.
He's already making the most of his time on court, today disposing of Serbia’s Zoran Ludoski in two impressive sets 7-5 7-6(8) in the second round of the Australian Open Junior Championships.
Despite being first on court at 11am, Dzhenev admitted the heat was an issue.
“It was pretty hot," he said. "I was trying to get the match over with quickly in the tie break.”
Another difficulty of a wholly different sort arose via his opponent, Ludoski.
"He is a really good friend, it was tough to play against him. We play doubles together,” said 15-year-old Dzhenev.
A similar hurdle will arrive in the next round, the last 16, with Belgium’s third seeded Alexander Blockx - who beat Turkey’s Atakan Karahan in straight sets today - a long-term opponent, and friend also, and whom Dzhenev has known since they were 10-years-old.
Regardless of the outcome of that match, Dzhenev is having a whale of a time in Melbourne. The focus has been all tennis to-date but this week should bring an opportunity to do some sightseeing, he says (biking in the Bulgarian mountains is a pastime back home - he is unlikely to discover an equivalent in Melbourne).
Indeed almost everything this month is new.
“It’s my first Grand Slam and my first time in Australia. I came because of the Grand Slam Player Development programme,” he said.
"I am really happy to be here. James Callemby is my coach (through the programme and for the duration of his spell in Australia). He’s English but lives in Australia and will show me around when I (hopefully) have some free time on Tuesday.
As well Callemby in his corner, Dzhenev has found a Bulgarian family of five who have been court-side for both his matches to-date. Quite literally flying the red, green and white flag of their home country, they did not know Dzhenev before this week but have adopted him of sorts. It’s nice to have such goodwill he said.
One foe Dzhenev will not have to face until the semi-finals is top-seeded Kilian Feldbausch, who blew away Croatia’s Matej Dodig for the loss of just three games to be into the last 16 before midday. Already the Swiss is looking the player to beat.
Monday was less straightforward for the sixth-seeded Japanese player, Rei Sakamoto, who took two hours and 32 minutes to find a way past Tiago Pires of France in the day’s opening match on court 15.
Less troubled was the American Cooper Williams, seeded eight, who saw off Korea’s Hoyoung Roh in just 62 minutes.