Saturday, 7 July, 2007
The boys’ and girls’ finalists have been decided on time with two Americans, a Pole and a Belarussian competing on Sunday for the prize of becoming Junior Wimbledon champion. The Americans could well be hailing future senior champions as they watch two of their youngsters competing for this year’s junior titles, namely Donald Young in the Boys and Madison Brengle in the Girls. All four finalists have survived a rain interrupted schedule with fortitude and, weather permitting, hope that they will be leaving Wimbledon as a champion to launch professional careers on the main tours. That hard work is still to come. Donald Young arrived at SW19 for his fourth Junior challenge having enjoyed a few forays into the senior ranks, which has had a dramatic impact on his game. Aged 17, the Atlanta-based youngster has been twice taken to a deciding ‘champion's tiebreak’. This innovation was introduced by the tournament organisers to get through the heavy schedule, but once proceedings were back on track it was dropped in favour of a proper third set for the final two rounds. Seeded three, Young dispatched the sixth seeded Australian Greg Jones in his first real test of the week, 6-4, 7-5 to progress into the Championship round. However, he faces an even tougher task in the shape of Vladimir Ignatic, the Belarussian junior French Open champion, a 16 year-old who celebrates his birthday next week, and making his debut at this year’s Championships. Ignatic has done a good job of adapting his physical game to the grass, and with his huge Andy Roddick-style serve has survived the gruelling order of play in good form. But he has shown some lapses in concentration, having been taken to a full three sets in the semis by the unseeded Ricardas Berankis from Lithuania. His only other real test was provided by the 15th seed, Thomas Fabiano of Italy, who pushed him close in an enthralling match, with a 10-8 champion's tiebreak in the third round. Home interest was eliminated at the semi-final stage of the Girls’ event by the sixth seeded German-born Pole, Urszula Radwanska, who survived a strong challenge from Sheffield’s Anna Fitzpatrick, a wild card entry performing well above her ranking to make the last four. Radwanska, 16, a semi-finalist last year in both the singles and doubles, and sister of 2005 Wimbledon Girls’ Champion Agnieszka, has had a relatively easy passage. She won all her matches in straight sets, including the elimination of the top seed and favourite, Anastasia Pavlychenkova of Russia, 7-5, 6-1 in the quarters. In contrast, the seventh seeded American, Madison Brengle, has been taken to a deciding ‘set’ on two occasions. She had to work hard in a very tight semi-final clash with the unseeded Katarzyna Piter of Poland, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3), her only other major test being provided by the 15th seed from Serbia, Bojana Jovanovski in the previous round. Brengle, 17, is delighted with her success to date. “I’m pleased to have got through two matches a day and today, which was a really close one,” she said. Looking forward to the final she added: “I can’t control what she does so I will be playing my own game.” Written by Henry Wancke
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