Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics and Yulia Putintseva of Russia, both unseeded, came through tough draws to claim titles at the Grade 2 International Junior Citta Di Prato in Italy.
Fucsovics reached the final of the Grade 2 tournament in Florence last month but had previously advanced past the last 16 on just one occasion since he began playing on the ITF Junior Circuit two years ago. In Prato the Hungarian’s toughest match came in the third round, when he lost a close first set tiebreak against Italian wild card Andrea Dall’Asta before fighting back to win 67(5) 64 62. However, Fucsovics’s other matches, against a host of highly seeded opponents, were all completed with little drama. These included a 75 63 quarterfinal victory over top seed and home favourite Federico Gaio (ITA), who had beaten Fucsovics in the Florence final four weeks previously. Then, in the semifinal Fucsovics demolished seventh seed Francesco Picco (ITA) 60 60 to book his place in the final against fifth seed David Thomson (GBR).
In his own semifinal, Thomson had brought to an end the impressive run of France’s Romain Arneodo, whose 13-match winning streak saw him come through qualifying to win last week in Salsomaggiore. Thomson was made to fight by his French opponent, but eventually came through to win 64 26 64 and set up his encounter with Fucsovics. However, in the final it was the Hungarian who dominated from the start, cruising to a 61 62 that gave him his maiden ITF Junior title.
The Lithuanian partnership of Vadim Pinko and Dovydas Sakinis claimed the boy’s doubles title as they overcame Kevin and Scott Griekspoor of the Netherlands, 76(4) 63.
Fourteen year-old Yulia Putintseva also picked up her first ITF Junior trophy as she came through qualifying to win the girls’ singles event. The Russian world No.661 reached the final with a run of 14 straight sets, including a 64 62 win against top seeded Italian Martina Trevisan in round two and a 62 64 semifinal victory over sixth seed Despina Papamichail (GRE).
In the final Putintseva faced fifth seeded Italian Carolina Pillot, who had begun the week in impressive form and reached the last four without dropping a set. In her semifinal match against Belarussian Polina Pekhova she dropped the opening set before fighting back to advance 26 64 60. Putintseva drew first blood in the final, winning the first set 61, but Pillot, with the support of her home crowd, fought back to win the second set 64. The deciding set was tight but Putintseva had the edge and came though 64 to extend her unbeaten run to eight matches.
Top seeds Ekaterina Nikitina (RUS) and Kyra Schroff (IND) picked up the doubles title, losing just 11 games along the way. Their impressive run culminated in a 60 63 vicotry over Ksenia Gospodinova (RUS) and Despina Papamichail (GRE) in the final.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Underdogs triumph in Prato
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