Young Breezes, Rain Arrives

©Colette Lewis 2006--
Flushing Meadows

The rain held off long enough on Tuesday to allow the completion of the first round of singles in the US Open juniors, but as on Monday, the news wasn't good for the home country's players.

Donald Young, the fourth seed, had no trouble with recent Canadian Open Grade 1 winner Jaak Poldma of Estonia, who is ranked 21st in the ITF's world junior rankings. Young dropped the first game of the match on his serve, but Poldma's go-for-broke style couldn't overcome Young's consistency and his retrieving skills. After a long second game, Young broke back and from there lost only one game.

Acknowledging that Poldma's forehand made him a dangerous opponent, Young pointed to his experience in the main draw, where he played singles, doubles and mixed doubles, as a major factor in his win.

"The pro tournament helped me a lot," Young said.

In addition to Young, top seed Martin Klizan also waited until the tournament's third day to take the court, meeting U.S wild card Bradley Klahn. Playing in his first Grand Slam event, the 16-year-old from Poway, Calif. was overpowered in the opening set, but began to find the Slovak's weaker backhand side in the second, matching him stroke for stroke before falling 6-1, 7-6 (2).

Drew Daniel, the 16-year-old qualifier from Kansas, battled Brazil's Fernando Romboli through three long sets, but couldn't hold an early break in the third and lost 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.

None of the four U.S. girls managed a set in their first round matches on Tuesday. Qualifier Julia Boserup lost to Canadian Open champion and 9th seed Ksenia Milevskaya of Belarus 6-3, 6-3, while wild card Mallory Cecil also drew a seed, no. 13 Sharon Fichman of Canada and was defeated 6-4, 6-1. Another wild card, Jamie Hampton, fell to Kristina Kucova of Slovakia 6-4, 6-3 and Lindsay Burdette was eliminated by Czech Katerina Vankova 6-4, 6-4.

Nine second round matches were in various stages of completion when rain interrupted them.

Chelsey Gullickson and Lauren Albanese of the U.S. were exchanging service breaks and laser groundstrokes, before Albanese held at 6-5 to take the first set. Gullickson led 1-0 in the second, on serve, when play was suspended.

Dennis Lajola had a one set lead on qualifier Artem Smirnov of the Ukraine in their second round match, winning the first set 6-2. The second set was suspended at 2-2.

The only second round match completed on Tuesday in boys' play was French second seed Jonathan Eysseric's 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 victory over Philip Bester of Canada.

Advancing to the third round on the girls side was Petra Martic of Croatia. She defeated qualifier Katrina Tuchmiaa 6-4, 6-0.

All doubles have been cancelled for the day, and the forecast calls for rain throughout the evening.