Top Seed Ruud Survives, No. 3 Seed Swan Eliminated at Grade A Orange Bowl; Quarterfinals Set in 16s Division

©Colette Lewis 2015--
Plantation, FL--

If you're looking for emotion and angst on the tennis court, you won't find it at a Casper Ruud match, at least not on his side of the court. The 16-year-old from Norway, the top seed this week at the Metropolia Orange Bowl and No. 3 in the ITF world junior rankings, defeated Alexandar Lazarov of Bulgaria 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) in a long, high-quality match.  With ample opportunities for frustration, Ruud didn't succumb, a lesson learned from his younger days as the best junior in the country.

"Growing up I was very crazy on the court," said Ruud, the son of former ATP Top 40 player Christian Ruud. "I was wild, screaming, crying when things went bad. But I was never the guy who was screaming, c'mon and everything.  I was used to winning back in Norway, where I was the best as long as I can remember, so when everything went against me, I was shocked.  I got so pissed, so then I had some talks with some good people, to find that calm that I need on the court, to find the player I want to be. And I think that works for me, being calm. Being pumped on the inside, but not showing too much or showing too many feelings when it goes bad either."

Ruud got the break he needed in the second set when serving at 3-3, when Lazarov fought back from 0-40 down only to double fault two points later.

Up 3-1 in the third set, again after a double fault by Lazarov on break point, Ruud lost that advantage as the tension began to mount on Stadium Court.  Ruud had three chances to break Lazarov at 5-5, but the 17-year-old Bulgarian showed off some impressive volleying on key points and eventually hit a forehand winner for 6-5.  Ruud held to force the tiebreaker, and took a 4-0 lead in it, with Lazarov making three forehand errors.

But Lazarov fought back to make 4-2 at the change of ends.  Ruud's forehand winner made it 5-2, but Lazarov countered with an overhead winner. Ruud's forehand long made it 5-4, but he had the match on his racquet, although for only one point, with Lazarov outlasting him in a long rally.  Another long rally ended with a huge forehand winner by Ruud, with Lazarov not venturing to the net, in spite of how successful that strategy had been just two games earlier.  On match point, with Lazarov serving, he failed to get a first serve in, and Ruud hit a forehand return winner off the second, a shot he acknowledged as lucky.

"The last return was a little framed," said Ruud. "I went for the shot and it wasn't clean, but I got it, luckily."

Ruud said that although he has confidence in his game from all the wins he's recorded this year, he knew Lazarov, who possesses a strong one-handed backhand, was dangerous.

"Anyone top 100 ITF can play really good tennis, high level," said Ruud. "So you have to be prepared when you play a guy like him. I think he's around 60, but he has a huge game and plays very good, when he plays good."

Next up for Ruud is No. 14 seed Ulises Blanch, who defeated Yunosuke Tanaka of Japan 6-3, 7-5.

Blanch is one of three American boys remaining in the round of 16, along with wild card John McNally and 2014 16s Orange Bowl champion Sam Riffice.

McNally defeated qualifier Robert Loeb 3-6, 7-5, 6-4, winning the final four games of the match, while Riffice ousted No. 10 seed Jurabeck Karimov of Uzbekistan 6-3, 6-3.

Eddie Herr champion Felix Auger-Aliassime, seeded seventh this week, lost to Toru Horie of Japan 6-3, 6-4, and No. 4 seed Yunseong Chung of Korea ended his disappointing fall with a  6-1, 4-6, 6-4 loss to qualifier Bruno Britez of Paraguay.

Only seven boys seeds remain in the round of 16, with No. 11 Genaro Olivieri of Argentina also losing today, to Kenneth Raisma of Estonia.

After losing No. 1 seed Sonya Kenin on Wednesday, two more top seeds fell on Thursday.  Usue Arconada, seeded fourth, lost to Jaqueline Cristian of Romania 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 and No. 3 seed Katie Swan of Great Britain was beaten by Anastasia Detiuc of Moldova 6-4, 6-7(1), 6-3. With Swan's loss, she is no longer in contention to end the year as the ITF World Junior Champion.

Detiuc, who splits her training between the Czech Republic and Bradenton's IMG Academy, said her win over Swan was the best of her junior career.

"She's number 4 I think in the world," said Detiuc, who had two match points against Kenin in the third round of the Eddie Herr but lost 7-5 in the third. "We played like three years ago, but I don't remember much. Some coaches told me she plays aggressive and flat and has a big serve. I went to the court and I was like shaking, but I was ok. I know I can play with her like normal.

Detiuc said she maintained her concentration throughout the match.

"I had a great serve today," said Detiuc, who will be 17 in four days. "I just tried to play aggressive and be focused."

Although she likes hard courts, Detiuc is most comfortable on clay.

"I like clay. I think my best results are always on the clay. I like the hard courts, but have always had better results on the clay."

As if beating the Australian Open finalist and world No. 4 wasn't enough, Detiuc finished her day with a win over the top-seeded doubles team.  She and Eleni Christofi of Greece, playing together for the first time, beat Dalma Galfi of Hungary and Tereza Mihalikova of Slovakia 6-2, 6-4.

Girls Eddie Herr champion Kylie McKenzie lost to No. 13 seed Anastasia Potapova of Russia 6-2, 6-1.  The 14-year-old Potapova, who played inspired tennis throughout the match, is attempting to add the Orange Bowl Grade A title to the Girls 14s Junior Orange Bowl championship she won last year in Miami.

Six US girls advanced to the round of 16.  No. 6 seed Kayla Day defeated Oana Gavrila of Romania 7-6(7), 7-6(4) and No. 12 seed Michaela Gordon beat Nina Kruijer of the Netherlands 6-4, 6-1.  No. 15 seed Caroline Dolehide, despite being out three months with an injury prior to this tournament, advanced, beating qualifier Hanna Chang 7-6(2), 6-2.  Alexandra Sanford topped qualifier Emma Higuchi 6-1, 6-3 and will play Day next.  Claire Liu beat qualifier Kariann Pierre-Louis 6-3, 6-3, and Maria Mateas upset No. 10 seed Pranjala Yadlapalli of India 6-3, 7-6(1).

Girls 16s champion Bianca Andreescu of Canada, the No. 9 seed, won her eighth straight singles match at Veltri Tennis Center, beating wild card Ellie Douglas 6-3, 6-3.

The top seeds in boys doubles were upset Thursday night, with Eddie Herr champion Ruud and Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia losing to Eddie Herr finalists Bjorn Thomson of Ireland and Alex De Minaur of Australia 6-3, 6-2.

Two rounds of singles will be played Friday in the 18s division.  The 16s division played two rounds of singles on Thursday, so the quarterfinals are now set.

Four US girls are still in contention for the title: qualifier Lea Ma, Rachel Lim(4), Ann Li(8) and Hannah Lairmore.  With Lairmore's 6-4, 6-3 win over Tiffany Lagarde of Canada, that country's string of four straight girls 16s champions will come to an end this year.

Only one US boy remains in running for the boys 16s title, Kyrylo Tsygura. No. 16  seed Tsygura won two three-set matches today, the second a 4-6, 6-0, 6-3 win over Sergio Hernandez Ramirez of Colombia, the No. 4 seed.

Complete results are below. Draws and the order of play can be found at the tournament website.

Boys 18s

Second Round

No. 1 Casper Ruud, NOR d. Alexandar Lazarov, BUL, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(5)

No. 2 Mate Valkusz, HUN d. Felipe Meligeni Rodrigues Alves, BRA, 6-0, 6-0

No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas, GRE d. Alexei Popyrin, AUS, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4

Bruno Britez, PAR d. No. 4 Yunseong Chung, KOR, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4

No. 5 Alex De Minaur, AUS d. Yibing Wu, CHN, 6-4, 6-1

Toru Horie, JPN d. No. 7 Felix Auger-Aliassime, CAN, 6-3, 6-4

No. 9 Miomir Kecmanovic, SRB d. Kacper Zuk, POL, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3

Sam Riffice, USA d. No. 10 Jurabek Karimov, UZB, 6-3, 6-3

Kenneth Raisma, EST d. No. 11 Genaro Alberto Olivieri, ARG, 6-2, 6-2

No. 14 Ulises Blanch, USA d. Yunosuke Tanaka, JPN, 6-3, 7-5

No. 16 Denis Shapovalov, CAN d. Ryan James Storrie, GBR, 6-3, 7-5

John McNally, USA d. Robert Loeb, USA, 3-6, 7-5, 6-4

Bojan Jankulovski, MKD d. Chien Hsun Lo, TPE, 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-0

Sven Lah, SLO d. Bjorn Thomsen, IRL, 5-7, 6-2, 6-2

Calin Manda, ROU d. Brandon Holt, USA, 6-4, 6-0

Rudolf Molleker, GER d. Mwendwa Mbithi, USA, 6-1, 6-1

Girls 18s

Second Round

No. 2 Dalma Galfi, HUN d. Kelly Chen, USA, 6-0, 6-2

Anastasia Detiuc, DMA d. No. 3 Katie Swan, GBR, 6-4, 6-7(1), 6-3

Jaqueline Adina Cristian, ROU d. No. 4 Usue Arconada, USA, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2

No. 5 Tereza Mihalikova, SVK d. Shelly Krolitzky, ISR, 6-2, 6-1

No. 6 Kayla Day, USA d. Oana Gavrila, ROU, 7-6(7), 7-6(4)

No. 7 Evgeniya Levashova, RUS d. Helen Abigail Altick, USA, 6-4, 6-1

No. 8 Tamara Zidansek, SLO d. Abigail Desiatnikov, USA, 6-3, 6-2

No. 9 Bianca Vanessa Andreescu, CAN d. Ellie Douglas, USA, 6-3, 6-3

Maria Mateas, USA d. No. 10 Pranjala Yadlapalli, IND, 6-3, 7-6(1)

No. 12 Michaela Gordon, USA d. Nina Kruijer, NED, 6-4, 6-1

No. 13 Anastasia Potapova, RUS d. Kylie McKenzie, USA, 6-2, 6-1

No. 15 Caroline Dolehide, USA d. Hanna Chang, USA, 7-6(2), 6-2

Monika Kilnarova, CZE d. Olga Danilovic, SRB, 6-4, 6-0

Claire Liu, USA d. Kariann Pierre-Louis, USA, 6-3, 6-3

Alexandra Sanford, USA d. Emma Higuchi, USA, 6-1, 6-3

Ioana Minca, ROU d. Eleni Christofi, GRE, 7-6(3), 7-5

Boys 16s

Second round

No. 2 Jonas Eriksson Ziverts, SWE d. Keenan Mayo, USA, 6-2, 6-4

No. 3 Karl Friberg, SWE d. Alejandro Hoyos Franco, COL, 6-1, 6-3

No. 4 Sergio Luis Hernandez Ramirez, COL d. Jack Pulliam, USA, 6-0, 6-0

No. 5 Seon Yong Han, KOR d. William Peters, USA, 6-1, 6-2

Luka Pavlovic, FRA d. No. 6 Juan Alejandro Hernandez Serrano, MEX, 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-3

No. 8 Nicaise Muamba, CAN d. Evan Bynoe, USA, 6-1, 6-1

No. 9 Sebastian Baez, ARG d. Steven Sun, USA, 7-6(3), 6-3

No. 10 Brian Cernoch, USA d. Sami Soufi, USA, 6-2, 6-3

Vikash Singh, IND d. No. 11 Andrew Fenty, USA, 0-6, 7-5, 6-1

No. 13 Karl Poling, USA d. Matthew Rodriguez, USA, 6-4, 6-0

No. 15 Miguel Fernando Pereira, CHI d. Boris Kozlov, USA, 6-3, 6-3

No. 16 Kyrylo Tsygura, USA d. Kento Perera, USA, 6-1, 4-6, 6-0

Juan Ignacio Batalla Diez, MEX d. John Kelly, BAH, 6-3, 6-4

Nicolas Mejia, COL d. Trey Hilderbrand, USA, 6-1, 6-3

Timofey Skatov, RUS d. Patrick Zahraj, GER, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4

Juan Pablo Grassi Mazzuchi, ARG d. James Ignatowich, USA, 6-2, 6-3

Third round

No. 2 Jonas Eriksson Ziverts, SWE d. No. 13 Karl Poling, USA, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4

No. 3 Karl Friberg, SWE d. Timofey Skatov, RUS, 6-3, 7-5

No. 16 Kyrylo Tsygura, USA d. No. 4 Sergio Luis Hernandez Ramirez, COL, 4-6, 6-0, 6-3

Nicolas Mejia, COL d. No. 5 Seon Yong Han, KOR, 6-4, 6-1

No. 8 Nicaise Muamba, CAN d. Vikash Singh, IND, 6-0, 6-2

No. 9 Sebastian Baez, ARG d. Juan Pablo Grassi Mazzuchi, ARG, 6-4, 7-6(6)

Luka Pavlovic, FRA d. No. 10 Brian Cernoch, USA, 6-3, 6-4

No. 15 Miguel Fernando Pereira, CHI d. Juan Ignacio Batalla Diez, MEX, 6-4, 6-3

Girls 16s

Second round

No. 1 Selma Stefania Cadar, ROU d. Alana Wolfberg, USA, 6-0, 6-1

No. 2 Maria Lourdes Carle, ARG d. Nicole Mossmer, USA, 6-1, 6-4

No. 4 Rachel Lim, USA d. Emily Dunbar, USA, 6-4, 6-1

No. 5 Emily Appleton, GBR d. Abigail Forbes, USA, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2

Gabriela Nicole Tatarus, ROU d. No. 6 Brindtha Ramasamy, CAN, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5

Lea Ma, USA d. No. 7 Fernanda Labrana, CHI, 6-1, 6-4

No. 8 Ann Li, USA d. Maileen Nuudi, EST, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3

No. 9 Sohyun Park, KOR d. Carolyn Campana, USA, 7-6(5), 6-2

No. 10 Mihaela Lorena Marculescu, ROU d. Amber O’Dell, 7-5(2), 7-6(5)

No. 13 Tiffany Lagarde, CAN d. Lillian Gabrielsen, NOR, 6-3, 6-1

Marcella Cruz, USA d. No. 16 Maria Manilova, RUS, 7-5, 7-5

Anna Brylin, USA d. McCartney Kessler, USA, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5

Isabella Tcherkes Zade, ITA d. Jada Robinson, USA, 6-1, 6-2

Hannah Lairmore, USA d. Kacie Harvey, USA, 6-3, 7-5

Eunhye Lee, KOR d. Emma Kurtz, USA, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3

Anna Titova, RUS d. Katerina Filip, SWE, 6-0, 6-4

Third round

No. 1 Selma Stefania Cadar, ROU d. Anna Brylin, USA, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2

No. 2 Maria Lourdes Carle, ARG d. Anna Titova, RUS , 6-2, 6-3

No. 4 Rachel Lim, USA d. Marcella Cruz, USA, 7-5, 6-3

No. 5 Emily Appleton, GBR d. Eunhye Lee, KOR, 1-6, 6-3, 6-0

Gabriela Nicole Tatarus, ROU d. No. 9 Sohyun Park, KOR, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5

No. 8 Ann Li, USA d. No. 10 Mihaela Lorena Marculescu, ROU, 7-5, 6-4

Hannah Lairmore, USA d. No. 13 Tiffany Lagarde, CAN, 6-4, 6-3

Lea Ma, USA d. Isabella Tcherkes Zade, ITA, 6-1, 6-4

DOUBLES

Boys 18s

Second Round

Alex De Minaur, AUS/Bjorn Thomsen, IRL d. No. 1 Casper Ruud, NOR/Miomir Kecmanovic, SRB, 6-3, 6-2

No. 2 Jurabek Karimov, UZB/Stefanos Tsitsipas, GRE d. Alexandar Lazarov, BUL/Rudolf Molleker, GER, 6-2, 6-3

Ergi Kirkin, TUR/Alexei Popyrin, AUS d. No. 3 Denis Shapovalov, CAN/Mate Valkusz, HUN, 7-6(6), 3-6 [10-4]

Tomas Martin Etcheverry/Genaro Alberto Olivieri, ARG d. No. 4 Ulises Blanch, USA/Yunseong Chung, KOR, 6-4, 3-6 [11-9]

No. 5 Alberto Lim, PHI/Youssef Hossam, EGY d. Alexey Aleschev, RUS/Calin Manda, ROU, 6-3, 7-5

Yuta Shimizu/Yunosuke Tanaka, JPN d. No. 7 Kenneth Raisma/Mattias Siimar, EST, 6-0, 6-7(10) [10-2]

Oliver Crawford, USA/Jack Mingjie Lin, CAN d. Andres Andrade, ECU/Duarte Vale, POR, 2-6, 6-1 [12-10]

Sven Lah, SLO/Bart Stevens, NED d. Zeke Clark/Robert Loeb, USA, 7-5, 1-6 [12-10]

Girls 18s

Second Round

Eleni Christofi, GRE/Anastasia Detiuc, MDA d. No. 1 Tereza Mihalikova, SVK/Dalma Galfi, HUN, 6-2, 6-4

Jaqueline Adina Cristian, ROU/Michaela Gordon, USA d. No. 3 Charlotte Robillard-Millette/Katherine Sebov, CAN, 6-2, 2-6 [10-4]

No. 4 Sofia Kenin/Ingrid Neel, USA d. Eugenia Ganga/Melany Solange Krywoj, ARG, 6-3, 6-0

No. 5 Tamara Zidansek, SLO/Pranjala Yadlapalli, IND d. Mirjam Bjorklund, SWE/Lara Salden, BEL, 7-6(3), 6-2

No. 8 Usue Arconada/Claire Liu, USA d. Nicole Conard/Kariann Pierre-Louis, USA, 6-4, 6-4

Georgia Andreea Craciun/Oana Gavrila, ROU d. Jessica Hinojosa Gomez, MEX/Ines Ibbou, ALG, 6-1, 3-6 [10-6]

Meible Chi/Taylor Russo, USA d. Clarissa Hand/Taylor Johnson, USA, 6—2, 3-6 [10-6]

Carson Branstine, USA/Jade Lewis, NZL d. Monika Kilnarova, CZE/Ioana Minca, ROU, 6-3, 6-4

Boys 16s

Second Round

Trey Hilderbrand/Keenan Mayo, USA d. No. 1 Karl Friberg/Jonas Eriksson Ziverts, SWE, 6-4, 6-0

No. 2 Brian Shi, USA/Nicaise Muamba, CAN d. Juan Alejandro Hernandez Serrano/Marcelo Sepulveda Garza, MEX, 6-3, 7-6(2)

No. 3 Miguel Fernando Pereira, CIH/Sebastian Baez, ARG d. Dimitri Bird/Zachary Garner, USA, 6-3, 6-2

No. 4 Andrew Fenty/Tristan McCormick, USA d. Matthew Rodriguez/Noah Schacter, USA, 6-1, 6-4

No. 5 Juan Ignacio Batalla Diez, MEX/Sergio Luis Hernandez Ramirez, COL d. Evan Bynoe/Steven Sun, USA, 6-3, 4-6 [10-6]

No. 6 Ryan Nijboer, NED/Seon Yong Han, KOR d. Diego Nava/Ethan Prost, USA, 6-3, 6-4

No. 7 Boris Kozlov/Karl Poling, USA d. Christian Alshon/Michael Heller, USA, 5-7, 7-6(5) [10-7]

No. 8 Alejandro Hoyos Franco/Nicolas Mejia, COL d. Chalres Fischer Pinheiro De B. Junior/Gilbert Soares Klier Junior, BRA, 3-6, 6-2 [10-6]

Girls 16s

Second Round

Hannah Lairmore/Alana Wolfberg, USA d. No. 1 Emily Appleton, GBR/Selma Stefania Cadar, ROU, 6-4, 7-6(6)

Anna Brylin/Rachel Lim, USA d. No. 3 Paula Baranano/Maria Lourdes Carle, ARG, 6-3, 7-5

No. 4 Ania Hertel, POL/Mihaela Lorena Marculescu, ROU d. Abigail Forbes/Jessi Muljat, USA, 4-6, 6-2 [14-12]

No. 5 Emma Decoste/Ann Li, USA d. Carolyn Campana/Jayci Goldsmith, USA, 6-4, 6-4

Nicole Mossmer/Marlee Zein, USA d. No. 6 Kacie Harvey/Jimena Rodriguez-Benito, USA, 7-6(3), 7-5

Ekaterina Makarova/Anastasia Tikhonova, RUS d. No. 8 Safiya Carrington/Jada Robinson, USA, 7-6(4), 3-6 [10-4]

McCartney Kessler/Emma Kurtz, USA d. Amber O’Dell/Luba Vasilyuk, USA, 6-2, 7-5

Emily Dunbar/Dalayna Hewitt, USA d. Yekaterina Martens/Kacey Beth Moore, USA, 6-2, 6-0