Semifinals Set in Boys, Girls 12s at Eddie Herr

Semifinals Set in Boys, Girls 12s at Eddie Herr~~~
©Colette Lewis 2005
Bradenton FL--

Three boys from the U.S. advanced to Thursday's semifinals of the 12 and under division at the Eddie Herr International junior event.

Christian Harrison, Emmett Egger and Mika De Coster are joined by Australia's Joey Swaysland after each carved out straight set wins in cool and breezy conditions at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy.

De Coster defeated Australian Andrew Whittington 6-2, 6-0 and has lost only six games in his four wins. Currently number two in the USTA 12 and under rankings, De Coster, who turned 12 in August, will face Swaysland in the semifinals, hoping to assure an all-American final. Harrison, 11, ranked third by the USTA, will face Egger, the top-ranked player in the 12s division. Harrison scrapped by Ukrainian Denys Mylokostov 6-4. 6-3 and Egger eked out a 6-4, 7-5 win. Swaysland prevented a sweep by the U.S. when he downed Ridley Seguso 6-2, 6-4.



In the girls 12s, Sloane Stephens is the lone U.S. player in the semifinals, but she got there in style, taking out Emi Mutaguchi of Japan 6-2, 6-0. The 12-year-old from Boca Raton will face Hanna Orlik of Belarus in the top half, while in the bottom half, Croatian Ajla Tomljanovic meets Di Zhao of China. Tomljanovic dropped the first set she played at the Eddie Herr but hasn't lost one since and will attempt to become the first player to win a set from Zhao on Thursday.

Both boys and girls 12s singles finals are scheduled for Friday.