US Girls Face Tough Test in Jr. Fed Cup Sunday, Buchanan & Gordon Reach Pro Circuit Finals
The U.S. remained undefeated in the ITF junior team competition qualifying in Montreal, but the girls 14s World Junior Tennis team needed to win the doubles point to get by Canada 2-1. With both boys and girls 14s having 2-0 records, they have earned their spots in August's international competition in the Czech Republic, as the top two teams advance. Christian Harrison had a very impressive 6-1, 6-3 win over Edward Nguyen of Canada, who succeeded Harrison as Les Petits As champion this year. (Correction: Harrison was a finalist at Les Petits As last year. Carlos Boluda won the title.) The US Junior Davis Cup team has also clinched their spot, because their opponent Sunday, Cuba, is 0-2 and the U.S. will have already beaten the other team should both finish 2-1. But because Mexico is guaranteed a spot as host country, there is only one spot available, and one very good team isn't going to make the Junior Fed Cup world championships in September. The U.S. and Canada play tomorrow for that one spot. Both are 2-0, and Canada has two excellent singles players in Gabriela Dabrowski and Katarena Paliivets, so it should be a tense and exciting match.
Evan King and Beatrice Capra are blogging from Montreal for usta.com. King's post is here; a link to Capra's is at the bottom.
For complete results from Montreal, see Tennis Canada's website.
In today's action at the $50,000 Boyd Tinsley Pro Circuit tournament in Charlottesville, qualifer Alexis Gordon, who played for the Florida Gators through 2006, reached the final, taking out 128th ranked and No. 3 seed Yanina Wickmeyer of Belgium in straight sets. She will play No. 2 Olga Puchkova of Russia in Sunday's final.
Easter Bowl champion Chase Buchanan has had his best showing at a Pro Circuit event, reaching the final of the $10,000 Futures tournament in Vero Beach, Fla. after a straight set win over No. 6 seed Luka Gregorc of Slovenia. Buchanan, a wild card, will play unseeded Jose De Armas of Venezuela in Sunday's final.
For complete draws, visit the Pro Circuit homepage on usta.com.
7 comments:
Colette, Harrison was runner-up at Les Petits last year. Carlos Boluda was the champion. But yeah, that is a very impressive win over Nguyen. I don't think there's much doubt about who the best player in that age group is.
Oops, you're right. I'll note the mistake in the post. Thanks for correcting me.
Colette, Both U.S. and Canada will be going to Mexico regardless of who wins even though Mexico is the host country I believe. But whoever wins between them will have a higher seed in Mexico.
I hope you are right. The ITF junior site says:
In the 16& under age category, Mexico as host nation is already guaranteed one of the two spots for the Finals in San Luis Potosi. One other nation in both the Junior Fed Cup and the Junior Davis Cup will qualify for the World Finals in Mexico.
Good luck to US teams, Buchanan & Gordon. Does anyone know why the #2 seed retired in the first set to Buchanan in the Quarters?
Im glad to see Flores will probably get a chance in the singles. I am very interested in his preparedness and fitness level. Diaz evidently doesnt have enough confidence in him to play higher than #3 so im not banking on him doing too much. Its a shame his season has turned out this way.
I have multiple questions about the lineups after looking at each teams. I will try to comment on them when I get back in town because there are several Im sure that others who looked at the lineups are wondering about and hopefully people have some answers to them.
Colette, my mistake. The US girls managed to qualify by beating Canada, who will not be going to Mexico. But, I have been told that the girls were not informed until after the deciding doubles match.
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