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Post by Brinyi on Dec 4, 2006 23:32:05 GMT -5
I see that Chang is actually from Taipei -- 15yo and trains at least part of the year in Florida.
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Post by janie on Dec 5, 2006 8:47:06 GMT -5
Sharon Fichman (3) CAN def. Chloe Jones USA, 63 63Friendly draw for Sharon! I wonder who is better, Chloe Jones or the Mexican Chloe. Of course, neither one is near the level of OUR Chloe. Poor Little Ayumi.
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Post by Brinyi on Dec 5, 2006 11:38:37 GMT -5
Sharon Fichman (3) CAN def. Chloe Jones USA, 63 63Friendly draw for Sharon! I wonder who is better, Chloe Jones or the Mexican Chloe. Of course, neither one is near the level of OUR Chloe. Poor Little Ayumi. Don't forget the Aussie Chloe!
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Post by freudo on Dec 5, 2006 13:02:51 GMT -5
Bester gogogogo... Brit girls gogogog anyone named Chekhov gogogog
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Post by Brinyi on Dec 5, 2006 21:00:16 GMT -5
Other 1R scores of note: Pedro Zerbini (Q) BRA def. Lofo Ramiaramanan (11) MAD 4-6; 6-2; 6-1 Peter Polansky CAN def. Kellen Damico (3) USA 6-2; 2-0 ret (ill) Stéphane Piro LL our of FRA will play the Donnster in 2R Julia Glushko ISR def. Michelle Larcher de Brito (Q) POR 6-4; 3-6; 7-6(3)
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Post by Brinyi on Dec 8, 2006 13:29:51 GMT -5
Thursday 7th December 2006 Urszula and Sorana bumped out of singles by Annie Paton Playing two straight weeks of competitive tennis may have taken it's toll as Eddie Herr finalists, Urszula Radwanska (POL) and Sorana Cirstea (ROM) exit the 60th Orange Bowl Championship in early morning matches at Crandon Park. Eddie Herr girl's 18 winner, Urszula Radwanska (7), who celebrates her 16th birthday today, fell to the Russian 11th seed, Anastasia Pivovarova while the Eddie Herr finalist, Sorana Cirstea (5) could not hold off Nikola Hofmanova (9) of Austria. The relentless heat and humidity may have contributed to their malady, however both faced very determined opponents who refused to give up. Although intense towards the end, Anastasia played a deliberate, methodical match to win 6-2; 6-2, cutting down on unforced errors and remaining composed, despite her opponent voicing her frustrations in her native Polish. "I focus on my game today and didn't focus on what she is doing," said Anastasia, whose one and only time she played Urszula was last week at Eddie Herr semifinals, when she lost to her 6-1; 6-2. "I made too many errors that time so my tactics today were to keep the ball in the court. Nobody knows who is going to win, so I was just playing from the first point. I can play different shots so it depends on my opponent. I can hit the ball and play aggressive, but today I was more passive." Nikola, who lost to Urszula in the Eddie Herr quarterfinals last week, played just as compelling by upending Sorana today, coming back from behind in both sets. At 2-5 down she won five straight games for the first set and in the second set she came back from 1-4. "I put everything in my head and I started to play my game," said the Austrian, who won 7-5; 7-5. "She was angry and she started to hit the ball as hard as she can, but I wanted to make the point and not wait for her mistake." Urszula ended her 16th birthday on a brighter note by winning in doubles with Sorana, and advancing to the girl's 18 semifinals. Meantime the match that had everyone gathering around first thing this morning, between Eddie Herr winner, Nicolas Santos (1) and unseeded Vladimir Zinyakov (RUS), failed to live up to expectation. Vladimir, clearly still ill from the stomach bug he picked up two days ago, had moments of brilliance but he could not out steady the Brazilian backboard. His erratic play prevented him for forging ahead of the top seed, who constantly pumps himself up shouting words of encouragement. Nicolas will now play in the quarterfinals against American qualifier, Brennan Boyajian, who stopped fellow qualifier, Pedro Zerbini (BRA). US Open finalist, Peter Polansky of Canada edged 14th seed, Rupesh Roy, 5-7; 6-2; 6-0, in a match that started very tight, with the Indian needing a bunch of set points to capture the first set. "I was serving to stay in and take it to a tie breaker," said Peter, drained from the exhausting battle. "I had a couple of game points but he ended up breaking me to make it 7-5, but in the second set I loosened up and started serving really well. I think he was getting a bit tired and he didn't want to be out here too long. It's like a 1000 degrees out here." It's true it feels like summertime in Florida. The Gnats and Mosquitoes are out in full force in the swampy Key Biscayne, and as Peter continued to say, " you have to move fast to avoid being bitten." Madison Brengle (12) (USA) who trained in Florida these past couple of months, had no such problem with the heat when she romped to victory over Ksenia Pervak (RUS) 6-2; 6-1. "I am so happy the way I played today," said Madison, who moved her opponent so well she started cramping in the second set. Julia Cohen (4) and Reka Zsilinszka (10) are the other two American girls through to the quarterfinal round. Reka was all excited after her straight set thrashing of Katerina Vankova (6) (CZE). "I have lost in the first round for the past four years," said the bubbly American. "I have never won a round ever. I said to myself 'there is no way I am going to lose in the first round five years in a row', so now it's officially uncursed." Finally, Eddie Herr boy's 16 winner, Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) upset the number one seed, Cesar Ramirez (MEX) in a fiercely contested exchange in the boy's 16 quarterfinals. The match swung back and forth as the 5th seeded Bulgarian lead a set and 4-2, before the Mexican fought back to level. Grigor wrapped it up in two of the most exciting tiebreak sets, with both players displaying some of the most brilliant tennis of these championships. The hotheaded Mexican showed disappointment afterwards by groaning out loud and then he stomped his foot through his racquet. He smashed it to bits on the pathway before calmly walking past the bin and depositing all the broken parts."I have known him for three years," said Grigor, walking bare foot back to the clubhouse because his feet hurt. "He is a good player and he has a lot of endurance on the court so it makes it a little tougher here. It should have been the final but there is another good guy in the draw from Argentina, he beat me one time, so I expect if I play well tomorrow the final will be between me and Guido Pella. I hope so."
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Post by Brinyi on Dec 8, 2006 15:11:46 GMT -5
Semis
Screaming Brazilian Backboard (1) - P Polansky (he outlasted Chekhov in the quarters) P Luncanu (4) - D Young (2)
M Brengle (12) - N Hofmanova (9) (she outlasted Cohen in the quarters) S Fichman (3) (she beat the bubbly Yank in the quarters) - K Milevskaya (2)
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Post by janie on Dec 8, 2006 15:47:56 GMT -5
Sharon, well done. Go Luncanu & Polansky. Not that I mind St. Nick, but the likable sleepwalker will always be a bigger fave. Poor Julia. And they didn't even bother giving her a quote, or even an adjective!
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Post by Brinyi on Dec 9, 2006 22:23:38 GMT -5
In the boy's 18s semifinals, Nicolas Santos (1) (BRA) stopped the US Open finalist, Peter Polansky (CAN), 6-3; 6-4. "I think the wind was better for me," said Nicolas, who outsteadied the player from Ontario, Canada. "I tried to be very consistent in the wind and let Polansky make all the mistakes." This will be Nicolas's second trip to a grade A final, one of which he hopes he can convert this time. A year ago he made it to the final in Mexico at the Copa Casablanca, losing to the current number one ranked Thiemo De Bakker. The much anticipated rematch between Petru Alexandru Luncanu (4) (ROM) and Donald Young (2) (USA) had spectators clamoring for seats. Games were on serve in the first set, when at 4-3 Donald had a break point opportunity but the Romanian thwarted it with a forehand down the line winner. Donald went down 0-40 on his service game, but came back with some big serving, including an ace at 30-40. At 5 games all they both swapped breaks. Then in the tiebreak Donald saved a set point at 6-5, but at 7-6 the return clipped the net and rolled over and just died, making it impossible to retrieve. " I think he gave up in the second set," said Petru. "I knew it would be a tough match. After I played him in Yucatan in the final last year I got used to his game. I knew what I had to do to beat him. I think he wanted to beat me because he wanted revenge, but I was very motivated and that was the most important thing that got me to the finals." He compared this to the time he played Donald in Yucatan before. "There was no wind then but it was under the lights at night. It was hot and more humid, but I think the wind was worse than the humidity, because you have to move a little bit more and you have to concentrate more on your shots." Meanwhile meeting Nicolas Santos in the final, Petru said: He's a good player, he doesn't make any mistakes, and he fights for every point, but be sure I am going to do my best in the final so I can win a title here." Meanwhile in the girl's semifinals, Nikola Hofmanova (9) (AUT) defeated Madison Brengle (12) (USA 7-6(1); 3-6; 6-2 for the second time in as many weeks. Today Nikola erased a set point at 5-4, 40-30 in the first set before bringing it to a tiebreak. While last week at the Eddie Herr international, she saved a match point at 5-2 in the third set before winning it 7-5. "If you start thinking what should I do now because it's set point you won't make the point," said Nikola, in a matter of fact manner. "I didn't have any special tactics against her; I just played my game." The Czech born player beat some heavy hitters to reach the final. "They are all on the WTA tour, around 400 or 500, so it was a very tough draw for me," she said, happy to reach the final. "I played here in the 16s quarterfinals and I never thought I would come back and play in the 18s final." Now she looks forward to the final and playing Ksenia Milevskaya (2) (BLR) who she beat at Wimbledon in the first round. Ksenia edged past Sharon Fichman (3) (CAN) 6-4; 4-6; 6-0 earlier, but she expressed a little disgust at herself for not playing a perfect match. "I am not proud because I was expecting it to be two sets," said the 2nd seed. "I got angry because I was up. I was mad at myself and that's why I lost this set." With anger channeled in a more positive way, Ksenia romped to a love third set to reach the final. Disappointed, Sharon said, "I started off pretty well and I had my chances in the first set, but she fought hard. I didn't come out as strong in the third set as I should have and she kept maintaining energy."
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Post by aussiestatman on Dec 10, 2006 9:31:11 GMT -5
hello all, this is all very exciting
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Post by Brinyi on Dec 10, 2006 20:12:06 GMT -5
Aussiestagman!
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Post by Brinyi on Dec 10, 2006 20:13:29 GMT -5
Sunday 10th December 2006
Lion killer, Alex, and Nikola win Orange Bowl titles
by Annie Paton
The year end demolisher of champions has done it again. Petru Alexandru Luncanu (4) wins his second major championship at the end of the year, by serving and volleying his way to victory over Nicolas Santos, stopping the Brazilian from winning back to back titles.
15 year old Nikola Hofmanova showed her win over Ksenia Milevskaya (2) at Wimbledon was no fluke when she defeated her on the big stage in Key Biscayne.
It was not Nicolas Santos' day. He did not take a break after the singles final and went straight into playing the boy's 18 doubles final.
In 18s doubles, Danila Arsenov ( RUS) and Roman Jebavy (CZE) (3) beat the Brazilian fourth seeds, Fernando Romboli and Nicolas Santos, 6-2; 6-4.
Sorana Cirstea (ROM) and Urszula Radwanska ( POL) (2) upended Sharon Fichman (CAN) and Katerina Vankova (CZE) (1), 6-3; 6-1.
More on the matches later.
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Post by Brinyi on Dec 10, 2006 20:17:07 GMT -5
No. 3 seed Luncanu, 17 from Bucharest, defeated No. 1 Nicolas Santos, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, ending the Brazilian’s 11-match winning streak. Hofmanova, who will turn 16 in February, upset No. 2 seed Ksenia Milevskaya, 7-5, 6-3.
“Last year I was looking at the girls in the 18s and thought ‘oh my God. They are so good’,” said the Czech-born Hofmanova, who lost in the third round of the Girls’ 16s here last year as the No. 2 seed. “Now I’m the Orange Bowl 18s champion. Wow.”
Hofmanova started off strong and took a 5-2 lead before Milevskaya leveled the first set a five games apiece. After holding serve, Hofmanova broke serve to win the first set.
“At 5-2 in the first, I stopped playing my game and she started to be more aggressive,” said Hofmanova, who trailed 1-3 in the second set before winning five straight games to finish the match. “I slept for the first three games of the second set.”
Santos, the 18-year-old from Sao Paolo, was the first seventh player from Brazil to reach the Orange Bowl Boys’ 18s final, the first in six years and joining three-time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten, who was runner-up in 1994.
Luncanu used an aggressive all-court game to win his first title on the ITF junior circuit since last December.
“I wanted to win here but didn’t expect to, but I played my best tennis this week and have a lot of confidence now that I am Orange Bowl champion," said Luncanu, who lost to eventual champion Robin Roshardt in the third round here last year.
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Post by Brinyi on Dec 10, 2006 20:18:43 GMT -5
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Post by janie on Dec 11, 2006 15:31:08 GMT -5
Oh no, at first glance I thought that was Boris Becker in the pic!
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Post by aussiestatman on Dec 12, 2006 5:06:53 GMT -5
Aussiestagman! hi brininho hope you are well is this your preferred place of postings, mate?
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Post by freudo on Dec 12, 2006 8:18:56 GMT -5
hiya Aussietagman...briny is here a lot, especially this month of exo's...we are all waiting for the glorious AU summer to begin. How are you?
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Post by freudo on Dec 12, 2006 8:20:47 GMT -5
I meant to say Briny is still god, he's everywhere
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