Hogenkamp cruises to Salsomaggiore title
Richel Hogenkamp from the Netherlands claimed her first ITF Junior Circuit crown at the Grade 2 International Tournament of Salsomaggiore last week. The third seed had been losing finalist on three occasions since first appearing on the Junior Circuit in October 2006, but never looked like faltering in Italy, as she picked up her maiden title without dropping a set.
With top seed Lesley Kerkhove (NED) and second seed Valeriya Savinykh (RUS) both eliminated in the first round, the path was clear for Hogenkamp to make an impact. After opening convincingly with a 75 60 win over Despina Papamichail (GRE), she then went on be beat Irina Khromacheva (RUS) 62 61 and Valentyna Ivakhnenko (UKR) 63 60 to book her spot in the last four, where she had the advantage of being the only remaining seeded player. By this stage a clear favourite for the title, Hogenkamp eased past Zsofia Miko (HUN) 62 62 to set up a final match against Slovenian Nastja Kolar.
Kolar, the world No.90, had knocked out fifth seed An-Sophie Mestach (BEL) 75 62 in round one before beating a lucky loser and two qualifiers to reach the final. Having reached the semifinals of the Grade 1 tournament in Beaulieu sur Mer the previous week and lost in the final in Istres the week before that, the Slovenian was keen to improve and pick up her first title since winning on home soil in August last year. However, in the final Hogenkamp drew first blood, winning the first set by the difference of a single break, 64. Then, in the second set, with nothing to separate the players after twelve games, a tiebreak ensued, which was won by the Dutch seven points to four.
To cap off an excellent tournament, Hogenkamp then paired up with Kerkhove to win the doubles title against Miko and Vivien Juhaszova (SVK), 46 63 [10-6]
French qualifier Romain Arneodo caused a big upset when he overcame third seeded Italian Federico Gaio in the final to win the boys’ singles title. The world No.134 won nine consecutive matches to lift his first ITF Junior trophy, having previously advanced as far as the semifinals on only one occasion. Arneodo picked up straight sets victories over fifth seed Andrei Vasilevski (BLR) and eleventh seed Matteo Civarolo (ITA), before coming from behind to edge past thirteenth seed Renzo Olivo (ARG) 57 63 64 in the quarterfinals. The Frenchman was then 75 40 up against tenth seed Patrick Brydolf (SWE) when his opponent was forced to retire, sending Arneodo through to his first final.
Gaio had begun the week strongly, but struggled to a 63 46 63 win over Francesco Picco (ITA) in the quarterfinals before coming from behind in a tough match against second seed Henri Laaksonen (FIN) to win 46 75 64. Arneodo’s momentum, paired with Gaio’s long matches gave the French player an early advantage in the final, as he clinched the opening set 63 before crushing his opponent to win the second 61.
Italians Francesco Picco and Marco Bortolotto won the boys’ doubles title with a 75 26 [10-5] finals victory against Vladzimir Kruk and Yaraslau Shyla of Belarus.
0 comments:
Post a Comment