Photo: Corinne DubreuilKathinka Von Deichmann (LIE)
MILAN, ITALY: Day one of the Italian Open in Milan saw some of the biggest names in junior tennis in action, many of whom had to dodge showers to progress at the prestigious Grade A tournament after inclement weather disrupted Monday’s schedule.
Last year’s Wimbledon Boys’ runner up Liam Broady is World No.2 on the ITF Junior Rankings and lived up to his billing as top seed by beating Russian Anton Desyatnik 6-3 6-3 to progress to the second round. In other boys results, Temur Ismailov (UZB) was too strong for Simeon Rossier (SUI) 6-4 7-6, while local favourites Christian Perinti (ITA) and Philip Baldi both scored home wins when Perinti eased past American Spencer Pope 6-3 6-1 and Baldi battled past 16th seed Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan 4-6 6-3 7-6.
The day was not without its upsets. Australian Jay Andrijic knocked out tenth-seeded German Daniel Masur 6-1 6-1 but perhaps the biggest surprise was sprung by young South African Wayne Montgomery, who scored an emphatic win over Canada’s Filip Peliwo, runner-up at this year’s Australian Open Junior tournament. Like many players before him, Montgomery is benefiting from being part of the ITF Grand Slam Development Fund Touring Team, which is designed to give junior players opportunities to compete where they might otherwise miss out because of lack of funds.
There was plenty of attention on Djordje Djokovic, whose elder brother Novak was in action in the final of the BNL D’Italia in Rome against Rafael Nadal at the same time. Neither result went the way of the Djokovic family, with Djordje forced to retire hurt against Herkko Pollanen at 4-6 6-1 1-0.
In the Girls’ competition in Milan on Monday, Leichtenstein’s Kathinka Von Deichmann sent shock waves through the draw by knocking out the tournament’s top seed Anna Danilina (KAZ) 6-4 6-2. Second seed Elizaveta Kulichkova of Russia had no such problems against local hope Beatrice Savignone, beating the Italian 6-0 6-1.