Eddie Herr and Orange Bowl 2006

[janie]

Here's the Girls 18s Main Draw (I've marked my pick to win )

(1) Julia Cohen vs (Q) Charlotte Rodier
Katharina Killi vs (Q) Nina Pantic
Monica Gorny vs (WC) Morgan Frank
LL vs (14) Katerina Kramperova

(12) Kalashnikova vs Valeriya Solvieva
(Q) Taylor Ormond vs Chloe Jones
Tara Moore vs (WC) Maria Mokh
Pamela Montez vs (8) Anastasia Pivovarova

(4) Urszula Radwanska vs (Q) Joanna Mather
Ioana Ivan vs Tammi Patterson
Ima Bohush vs Natalia Ryzhonkova
Olivia Bennet vs (16) Ksenia Pervak

(9) Madison Brengle vs LL
(Q) Maxi Ehmer vs (WC) Mallory Burdette
Petra Martic vs (Q) Christina McHale
Kiristen Weedon vs (6) Nikola Hofmanova

(5) Dominice Ripoll vs Tamaryn Hendler
Melanie Oudin vs Irina-Alexandra Paraschiv
Viktoriya Kamenskaya vs Katarzyna Piter
Gabriela Paz vs (10) Tereza Mrdeza

(13) Kimberly Couts vs LL
(WC) Alexa Guarachi vs Janina Toljan
Courtney Clayton vs Yulia Gavenko
(WC) Mallory Cecil vs (3) Katerina Vankova

(7) Reka Zsilinszka vs (WC) Michelle Larcher de Brito
Kristy Frilling vs Jade Curtis
Julia Boserup vs Jasmina Tinjic
Julia Glushko vs Elena (11) Chernyakova

(15) Kai Chen Chang vs (Q) Whitney Byrd
Bianca Swanepoel vs Pavla Smidova
Karina Pimkina vs Kim Grajdek
Gail Brodsky vs (2) Sorana-Mihaela Cirstea

[Brinyi]

My pick not to win: J.Cohen!

[Brinyi]

Boys' 18u draw

Nicolas Santos (1) BRA - Ricardas Berankis LTU
Dragos Mirtea ROM - Axel Michon FRA
Evgeny Donskoy RUS - Guillermo A Rivera CHI
Davide (LL) Della Tommasina ITA - Harri Heliovaara (15) FIN
Dennis Lajola (10) USA - Bernard (WC) Tomic AUS
Peter Polansky CAN - Takanyi Garanganga ZIM
Joao Sousa POR - Vladimir Zinyakov RUS
Luis (Q) D Martinez VEN - Roman Jebavy (5) CZE

Petru A Luncanu (3) ROM - Mikhail (LL) Fufygin RUS
Dimitris Kleftakos GER - 20 Rhyne R Williams USA
Ivan Endara ECU - Drew A Daniel USA
Rasid Winklaar AHO - Johnny Hamui (16) USA
Rupesh Roy (11) IND - Jeff (Q) W Dadamo USA
Deni (LL) Zmak CRO - Artem (LL) Gramma UKR
Cesar M Ramirez MEX -Austin Krajicek USA
Carl (Q) "Almost The Poet" Sundburg NOR - Daniil Arsenov (8) RUS

Jose Velasco (6) BOL - Graeme Dyce GBR
Radu Albot MDA - Alin-Mihai Constantin ROM
Soren Wedege DEN - Milos (Q) Raonic CAN
Vladimir Ignatic BLR - Ricardo A Urzùa (12) CHI
Gastao Elias (13) POR - Valentin Dimov BUL
Chase (WC) Buchanan USA - Gonzalo Escobar ECU
Ilya (Q) Belyaev RUS - Mateusz Kecki USA
Bradley (WC) Klahn USA - Pavel S Chekhov (4) RUS

Bassam G Beidas (7) LIB - Jerome Inzerillo FRA
Ryan (WC) Lipman USA - Vladimir Karusevich RUS
Ahmed (Q) Ismail USA - 54 Patricio (Q) Alvarado ECU
Gueorgui Roumenov ESP - Roberto Maytin (9) VEN
Fernando Romboli (14) BRA - Aljaz Bedene SLO
Jarmere (WC) Jenkins USA - Cristian (LL) C Tanase ROM
Giacomo (WC) Miccini ITA - Philip (WC) Bester CAN
Attila (Q) Bucko BIH - Kellen Damico (2) USA

[janie]

Oh, tough draw for the armless one.

It goes without saying that I've gotta root for the kid named Gramma!

[janie]

Girls 18s r1:

64 (2) Sorana-Mihaela Cirstea d. Gail Brodsky 6-4;6-4
64 Karina Pimkina d. Kim Grajdek 6-7(5);7-6(4);7-5
64 Pavla Smidova d. Bianca Swanepoel 6-2;7-5
64 (15) Kai Chen Chang d. Whitney (Q) Byrd 6-1;6-0

64 Julia Glushko d. (11) Elena Chernyakova 7-6(6);6-3
64 Jasmina Tinjic d. Julia Boserup 7-6(5);6-2
64 Jade Curtis d. Kristy Frilling 6-1;7-5
64 Michelle (WC) Larcher de Brito d. (7) Reka Zsilinszka 6-2;6-2

64 (3) Katerina Vankova d. Mallory (WC) Cecil 6-7(4);6-2;6-3
64 Yulia Gavenko d. Courtney Clayton 6-2;6-3
64 Janina Toljan d. Alexa (WC) Guarachi 2-6;6-1;6-3
64 (13) Kimberly Couts d. Ekaterina (LL) Rybakova 6-3;6-0

64 (10) Tereza Mrdeza d. Gabriela Paz 6-4;2-6;6-0
64 Katarzyna Piter d. Viktoriya Kamenskaya 6-3;6-1
64 Melanie Oudin d. Irina-Alexandra Paraschiv 6-4;6-2
64 Tamaryn Hendler d. (5) Dominice Ripoll 6-2;6-3

64 (6) Nikola Hofmanova d. Kiristen Weedon 6-2;6-0
64 Petra Martic d. Christina (Q) McHale 6-3;6-0
64 Mallory (WC) Burdette d. Maxi (Q) Ehmer 6-2;4-6;7-5
64 (9) Madison Brengle d. Monica (LL) Pezzotti 6-0;6-2

64 (16) Ksenia Pervak d. Olivia Bennett 6-2;6-4
64 Natalia Ryzhonkova d. Ima Bohush 2-6;6-1;6-2
64 Tammi Patterson d. Ioana Ivan 6-7(4);7-6(4);6-3
64 (4) Urszula Radwanska d. Joanna (Q) Mather 6-1;6-1

64 (8) Anastasia Pivovarova d. Pamela Montez 6-3;2-6;6-2
64 Maria (WC) Mokh d. Tara (Q) Moore 7-6(5);6-4
64 Taylor (Q) Ormond d. Chloe Jones 6-4;6-4
64 (12) Oksana Kalashnikova d. Valeriya Solovieva 6-4;7-5

64 (14) Katerina Kramperova d. Daisha (LL) Hill-Hurtado 6-2;4-6;6-0
64 Monica Gorny d. Morgan (WC) Frank 6-4;6-3
64 Nina (Q) Pantic d. Katharina Killi 6-2;4-6;6-2
64 (1) Julia Cohen d. Charlotte (Q) Rodier 6-2;6-1

I know it's impossible, but I secretly wish Julia could win this somehow.

[janie]

Boys 18 r1:

64 (2) Kellen Damico d. Attila (Q) Bucko 4-6;7-6(6);6-4
64 Philip (WC) Bester d. Giacomo (WC) Miccini 7-6(5);6-4
64 Jarmere (WC) Jenkins d. Cristian (LL) Tanase 4-6;7-5;6-3
64 (14) Fernando Romboli d. Aljaz Bedene 6-4;6-4

64 (9) Roberto Maytin d. Gueorgui Roumenov 6-3;6-4
64 Ahmed (Q) Ismail d. Patricio (Q) Alvarado 6-2;6-3
64 Vladimir Karusevich d. Ryan (WC) Lipman 6-2;7-5
64 Jerome Inzerillo d. (7) Bassam Beidas 6-3;6-0

64 (4) Pavel Chekhov d. Bradley (WC) Klahn 6-3;7-6(2)
64 Ilya (Q) Belyaev d. Mateusz Kecki 6-3;6-4
64 Gonzalo Escobar d. Chase (WC) Buchanan 6-4;3-6;7-5
64 (13) Gastao Elias d. Valentin Dimov 6-3;3-6;7-5

64 (12) Ricardo Urzùa d. Vladimir Ignatic 6-3;5-7;6-0
64 Milos (Q) Raonic d. Soren Wedege 6-2;6-3
64 Radu Albot d. Alin-Mihai Constantin 6-7(6);6-2;6-3
64 Graeme Dyce d. (6) Jose Velasco 4-6;7-5;6-2

64 (8) Daniil Arsenov d. Carl (Q) Sundberg 6-2;6-1
64 Austin Krajicek d. Cesar Ramirez 7-6(9);6-1
64 Deni (LL) Zmak d. Artem (LL) Gramma 6-4;6-3
64 Jeff (Q) Dadamo d. (11) Rupesh Roy 6-3;6-4

64 Rasid Winklaar d. (16) Johnny Hamui 6-4;7-6(2)
64 Ivan Endara d. Drew Daniel 6-3;6-3
64 Rhyne Williams d. Dimitris Kleftakos 7-6(7);6-7(9);6-4
64 (3) Petru Luncanu d. Mikhail (LL) Fufygin 5-7;6-1;6-2

64 (5) Roman Jebavy d. Luis (Q) Martinez 6-3;7-5
64 Joao Sousa d. Vladimir Zinyakov 5-7;7-6(6);6-2
64 Peter Polansky d. Takanyi Garanganga 6-1;6-2
64 Bernard (WC) Tomic d. (10) Dennis Lajola 6-4;4-6 Ret (inj)

64 (15) Harri Heliovaara d. Davide (LL) Della Tommasina 5-7;6-4;6-1
64 Evgeny Donskoy d. Guillermo Rivera 7-5;6-1
64 Dragos Mirtea d. Axel Michon 6-1;6-2
64 (1) Nicolas Santos d. Ricardas Berankis 6-4;1-6;6-1 good fight, though

[Brinyi]

Bester earns bragging rights
Beats Miccini at Eddie Herr in battle of Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy students

RYAN T. BOYD
Herald Staff Writer

BRADENTON - Dana Bester still views her son, Philip, 18, as her baby.

"He just passed his driving test," Dana said Tuesday night. "He is my only child."

Now, the steering wheel will feel what his tennis opponents feel from across the net.

His command.

That was a bit of a reach, Ryan.

On Tuesday, Giacomo Miccini of Italy was served a heavy dose (mixed metaphor, Ryan) of Bester's ability as Bester muscled by Miccini 7-6 (5), 6-4, in the first round of the Boys 18s Division of the Eddie Herr International at IMG Academies.

Both players attend Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy and see each other on a daily basis, so Tuesday's tennis match had a little more meaning.

Bragging rights.

"This was one of those matches I wanted to make a statement in a humble way," said Bester, who is from North Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada.

Bester felt added pressure since Miccini is four years younger, and appears to be one of the rising stars at the academy. Last month, Miccini won the Boys 18s Division of the 11th annual Angela Maria Lopera Junior Classic, and looked to be riding momentum from that win.

In both sets, Bester trailed in the early going, and at one point in the second set found himself down 4-1 and looking at a possible third set. Miccini's aggressive play along the baseline gave Bester fits the entire match, but Bester's experience and power paid dividends each time he found himself in a jam.

"I stayed with him through the whole match, but there were times I turned it up," said Bester, who was a finalist at the Junior French Open in June. "That's the part of my game that I'm working on. I'm able to stay with a guy, then I'm able to kick it into gear at the right moment, and hit some big shots."

Bester was unable to participate in last year's Eddie Herr because of a stress fracture in his right hand. He is scheduled to face No. 2 seed Kellen Damico today in the round of 32.

In January, Bester's junior eligibility will end. This is his last tournament before turning professional.

"I decided to play in this tournament two weeks ago," he said. "The reason was because I couldn't play in it last year, and I'm really competitive and my junior career will be over soon, and I wanted to play in this tournament. The Eddie Herr is a prestigious tournament."

Bester's game may look polished to the naked eye, but Andreas Bubik, Bester's coach at the academy, sees something that still needs work.

"I'm trying to get him to relax more during matches, and during important points," Bubik said. "I know it's easier said than done, but he has a tendency to get nervous."

If anyone was nervous on Tuesday, it was Dana Bester.

"The 14-year-old boy was really fighting, like I saw Philip fight against a boy 18 when he was 14," Dana Bester said. "This is (Philip's) last chance to close this chapter."

The tournament resumes today with matches beginning at 8 a.m. Admission is free.

[Brinyi]

"Kellen Damico (2) came the closest to being ousted from the tournament of the top three seeds, having to save a match point in the second set, at 4-6; 6-6, (5-6 in the tiebeaker) against qualifier, Attila Bucko"

Damico vs Bester today!

"14 year old Australian wild card, Bernard Tomic, was in a humdinger of a battle with American, Dennis Lajola (10), when the American retired after leveling the match by winning the second set. Dennis complained of a really bad headache and the wuss could could no longer continue."

"Finally unseeded US Open finalist, Peter Polansky from Canada had a good warm up first round against Takanyi Garanganga of Zimbabwe. "It was a pretty good first match," he said. "My opponent played good too, but on the big points I was more steady than him." Both players were very generous with their line calls, and it was wonderful to watch such a sporting match."

[Brinyi]

Armless.

[janie]

"This was one of those matches I wanted to make a statement in a humble way," said Bester, who is from North Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada.

He might live in Florida, but he's Canadian through and through, eh?

[janie]

Bucko moved to the US from Serbia/Montenegro about 5 years ago. He's nearly 19, and he's very sought-after by college teams; here's his recruiting page and his Junior profile page:

www.tennisrecruiting.net/player.asp?id=247666

www.juniortennis.com/ajt/playerinfo.php?player_id=2773

Here's the best part:

Favorite Tennis Player:
Pete Sampras "because his attitude on and off the court is calm and controlled and he seems to have fun. I think I am also like that"

[Edna Krabappel]

Bucko means "fatty" in Serbian.

[janie]

Really? Poor little Fatty.

[janie]

Boys 18s r2:

32 Philip (WC) Bester d. (2) Kellen Damico 6-3;6-3
32 (14) Fernando Romboli d. Jarmere (WC) Jenkins 7-6(5);6-0
32 (9) Roberto Maytin d. Ahmed (Q) Ismail 7-6(5);6-3
32 Vladimir Karusevich d. Jerome Inzerillo 6-4;7-5

32 (4) Pavel Chekhov d. Ilya "Man from U.N.C.L.E." (Q) Belyaev 6-7(5);6-4;7-5
32 (13) Gastao Elias d. Gonzalo Escobar 6-4;6-3
32 Milos (Q) Raonic d. (12) Ricardo Urzùa 6-4;6-4
32 Radu Albot d. Graeme "roll of the" Dyce 7-6(4);4-6;6-4

32 (8) Daniil Arsenov d. Austin Krajicek 6-4;6-2
32 Jeff (Q) Dadamo d. Deni (LL) Zmak 6-3;4-6;6-3
32 Rasid Winklaar d. Ivan Endara 7-5;6-2
32 (3) Petru Luncanu d. Rhyne Williams 6-1;6-1

32 (5) Roman Jebavy d. Joao Sousa 6-2;6-1
32 Peter Polansky d. Bernard (WC) Tomic 6-4;6-1
32 (15) Harri Heliovaara d. Evgeny Donskoy 6-3;6-1
32 (1) "Jolly old St." Nicolas Santos d. Dragos Mirtea 6-0;6-0

[janie]

Girls 16s r2 selected:

32 Carling (WC) Seguso d. Volha Kalodzitsa 6-4;4-6;6-2
32 Naomi Broady d. (5) Brittany Wowchuk 6-1;6-3

[janie]

Girls 18s r2:

32 (2) Sorana-Mihaela Cirstea d. Karina Pimkina 6-3;7-6(2)
32 (15) Kai Chen Chang d. Pavla Smidova 6-4;6-4
32 Jasmina Tinjic d. Julia Glushko 6-0;6-1
32 Michelle (WC) Larcher de Brito d. Jade Curtis 6-7(5);6-2;6-2

32 (3) Katerina Vankova d. Yulia Gavenko 7-5;6-3
32 (13) Kimberly Couts d. Janina Toljan 6-1;6-1
32 Katarzyna Piter d. (10) Tereza Mrdeza 6-1;6-2
32 Tamaryn Hendler d. Melanie Oudin 6-3;7-5

32 (6) Nikola Hofmanova d. Petra Martic 1-6;6-4;6-4
32 (9) Madison Brengle d. Mallory (WC) Burdette 6-1;6-2
32 (16) Ksenia Pervak d. Natalia Ryzhonkova 6-2;6-1
32 (4) Urszula Radwanska d. Tammi Patterson 6-4;6-1

32 (8) Anastasia Pivovarova d. Maria (WC) Mokh 6-3;4-6;6-4
32 (12) Oksana Kalashnikova d. "I've hit the wall!!" Taylor (Q) Ormond 6-0;6-0
32 (14) Katerina Kramperova d. Monica Gorny 6-1;6-1
32 (1) Julia Cohen d. Nina (Q) Pantic 4-6;6-0;6-2

[janie]

Girls 18s round of 16:

16 (2) Sorana-Mihaela Cirstea d. (15) Kai Chen Chang 6-2;6-3
16 Michelle (WC) Larcher de Brito d. Jasmina Tinjic 2-6;6-2;6-3
16 (13) Kimberly Couts d. (3) Katerina Vankova 6-0;4-6;6-1
16 Tamaryn Hendler d. Katarzyna Piter 6-2 Ret (inj)

16 (6) Nikola Hofmanova d. (9) Madison Brengle 1-6;6-1;7-5
16 (4) Urszula Radwanska d. (16) Ksenia Pervak 6-3;6-2
16 (8) Anastasia Pivovarova d. (12) Oksana Kalashnikova 7-5;6-4
16 (14) Katerina Kramperova d. (1) Julia Cohen 6-3;7-5

[Maeby Fünke]

Apparently there are two British girls in the 12s final. How exciting, at least until they are 18 and still playing juniors and LTA satellites.

[corswandt]

janie said:

Girls 18s round of 16:

16 Michelle (WC) Larcher de Brito d. Jasmina Tinjic 2-6;6-2;6-3

Whoa. She is the real deal. I don't see her remaining Portuguese for much longer though.

[janie]

Not remain Portuguese? What do you mean? Is she training in Spain or Florida or something? Portugal needs a good player. Piedade seemed promising, but she's been in a terrible slump.

[janie]

willow said:

Apparently there are two British girls in the 12s final. How exciting, at least until they are 18 and still playing juniors and LTA satellites.

That is definitely exciting. Brit tennis needs some good news (though the Brit situation not as dire as Portugal's!)

[corswandt]

janie said:

Not remain Portuguese? What do you mean? Is she training in Spain or Florida or something?

She's been at Bollettieri for about 4 years now. And since being Portuguese isn't useful for marketing purposes (unlike say Sharapova's Russian-ness) it's likely she'll become a US citizen.

Portugal needs a good player. Piedade seemed promising, but she's been in a terrible slump.

I missed a chance to watch Piedade play at the Estoril Open this year, so I don't really know if she's worth #150 or #250 as she is ranked now. Still, she managed to be the highest ranked Portuguese WTA player ever.

[Edna Krabappel]

corswandt said:

She's been at Bollettieri for about 4 years now. And since being Portuguese isn't useful for marketing purposes (unlike say Sharapova's Russian-ness) it's likely she'll become a US citizen.

Is she likely to be hot when she grows up? In that case she won't need an exotic nationality to get good endorsement deals. Besides, who knows, maybe her family is overly nationalistic or something.

[janie]

I hope she'll stay proudly Portuguese and encourage other Portuguese kids to start playing tennis. Frederica needs some new compatriots out there; she's run out of steam.

I don't think being "hot" is enough to get good endorsement deals any more, Madame Krab. You've got to look like top 10 material to get a good look in any more.

[Brinyi]

Yahor Yatsyk toppled the first number one seed of the 2006 championships in the boy's 14s age division, by outlasting Rodney Carey from the Bahamas, 6-4; 2-6; 6-3. Although Yahor admitted to being a little tired in the second set, he regrouped and changed his strategy to pull it out in three.

...

In boy's 18 action, it was a very difficult day for the fourth seed, Pavel Chekhov who says he is lucky to have survived a challenge from fellow Russian, Ilya Belyaev, on the Stadium Court; a court that Pavel uses frequently to work out in his Bollettieri practice sessions.

The court proved not to be an advantage as 16 year old Ilya's lightening fast return game merely stunned Pavel by making his big serves look almost ordinary. "It was tough to play against him," said the older Russian, unsure what to do next. "He was playing the points really good and I couldn't do anything."

...

Also US Open finalist, Peter Polansky from Canada will play his doubles partner, Roman Jebavy (5) of Czech Republic, in the boy's 18 singles third round. Peter defeated Roman at the US Open quarterfinals, enroute to the final. "Maybe I will trip him up in doubles this afternoon," he joked, after stopping the talented 14 year old, Bernard Tomic of Australia to advance to the round of 16.

[Brinyi]

Meanwhile, the 12s singles finals are all set for tomorrow, with three out of four Brit's making it to the final. In the girls, Laura Robson will face her long standing rival, Jessica Ren, while Liam Broady will take on American, Mitchell Krueger.
Laura and Jessica have played each other five or six times. The last two times Jessica has won, but they have not played since the early part of the year, while Liam and Mitchell have never faced each other before.

[Brinyi]

I'm sure Andy Murray will find a way to take credit for this.

[Brinyi]

/me hopes that Yahor Yatsyk makes it big. I can't think of another YY in tennis.

[Brinyi]

"I knew I had to serve well and go for my volleys. She didn't know how to play, so I won the first set easy. In the second set there was some problem and misunderstanding with Julia. ???She was leading 4-2 and 40-love, so afterwards I calmed down and decided to play my game, like in the first set. I had my friends cheering for me and came back and I served really well and I won."

-- K. Kramperova

...

The most exciting match that attracted the biggest crowd and the loudest grunts, came from court 8 when 13 year old Michelle Larcher de Brito faced fellow Bollettieri camper, Jasmina Tinjic in the girl's 18 fourth round. Both girls played all out, displaying some riveting tennis before a sizable appreciative crowd. Eventually, Michelle won the emotionally charged encounter, 2-6; 6-2; 6-3.

[janie]

Boys 18s rd of 16:

16 Philip (WC) Bester d. (14) Fernando Romboli 6-2;6-1
16 (9) Roberto Maytin d. Vladimir Karusevich 6-3;6-7(11);7-6(5)
16 (4) Pavel Chekhov d. (13) Gastao Elias 2-6;7-6(1);6-4
16 Radu Albot d. Milos (Q) Raonic 7-5;1-6;6-4

16 Jeff (Q) Dadamo d. (8) Daniil Arsenov 7-6(4);3-6;6-1
16 (3) Petru Luncanu d. Rasid Winklaar 5-7;7-6(3);7-6(4)
16 (5) Roman Jebavy d. Peter Polansky 3-6;6-2;6-4
16 (1) Nicolas Santos d. (15) Harri Heliovaara 6-1;6-7(6);6-4