Tuesday December 5th 2006
The day remained gloomy, while the threatened rain stayed away long enough for the 18s to complete their first round singles matches. Most of the 16s singles advance to the third round before the rain delay.

Eddie Herr winners hang on in round one
by Annie Paton
It is a lot of tennis these past two weeks for those that made it to the final of the Eddie Herr Championships. In the girl's 18s singles, Urszula Radwanska (7), edged past Chelsey Gullickson to advance into the second round. Urszula started with a flurry, going ahead 6-2, before Chelsey called for the trainer for a medical time-out to attend to her right shoulder. The Polish player, born in Germany while her family were living there, had to search for some reserves of energy to bypass the American afterwards.

Chelsey cranked up her big forehand and immediately broke serve at the start of the second set. Chattering in her native Polish, Urszula started berating herself and slapping herself on the leg to urge herself on. It was neck and neck until four-games-all, when despite a couple of double faults, Urszula's big serve and ground strokes rifled to the American's backhand kept her in the set. Chelsey served to stay in the match at 4-5, but at 15-40 with two match points in hand, a surprise return to the American's forehand forced the error and the ball landed into the bottom of the net.

"It was very tough and I didn't play so good because I am tired," explained Urszula. "I didn't know her before so I just tried to put the ball in the court, but I am happy that I won."

At the same time, Eddie Herr runner-up, Sorana Cirstea (5) also had to find some energy to suppress the feisty Russian, Karina Pimkina. Sorana had the match in the bag, leading 6-3; 5-2, when the lucky loser made a last minute surge.

Sorana had a staggering five match points erased when serving for the match at 5-4, only to lose it for 5-all. The next game was no easier, as her opponent had an amazing six break chances, in the very long service game, not to mention nine deuces, before breaking to lead 6-5.

The brave Russian's strategy to run her opponent off the court, plus throwing in a good bunch of drop shots and lobs, worked before, but the pressure to hold to stay in the match may have been too great. She double faulted at 15-30 and again at ad-out, to lose in her sixth match point.

"At the end of the match I started to get a little bit tired and I couldn't focus," said Sorana. "When I had all those match points I tried to rush and I couldn't finish. I tried to go for a bit more and I didn't have enough patience, but I have to recover to get ready for my next match tomorrow."

As a contrast, the boy's 18 winner at the Eddie Herr Championships, Nicolas Santos (1) is looking as fresh and eager as ever, like a man with a mission. Nicolas knows only one way to play; all out. Today he revved up the spectators on the main stadium court, even though it's only the first round, to beat Thailand's Perakiat Siriluethaiwattana, in an entertaining two setter, 6-2; 6-3.

Meantime, as luck would have it, Pavel Chekhov (5) faced his old friend and fellow Russian qualifier, Ilya Belyaev in a repeat of the Eddie Herr second round. It was another struggle in the first set, as the taller Russian fell behind 3-5, before advancing to force the tie break and winning the match, 7-6(1); 6-3.

The anticipated match between unseeded Peter Polansky (CAN) and third seeded, Kellen Damico (USA) failed to spark any fireworks, as Kellen retired because of a stomach ache.

In girl's 18 action, Melanie Oudin (USA) left the court almost as quickly as she arrived, by stunning the ETA number one player of the year, 15th seeded Elena Chernyakova (RUS), 6-1; 6-1.

"I played pretty well today," said Melanie. "I made my shots and I played aggressive and everything just worked today. My forward movement was very good so whenever she tried to bring me in, I would move in and get the ball and try to turn defense to offence."

Qualifiers still alive in the boy's 18 second round are, Brennan Boyajian who upset fellow American, Nate Schnugg (8), Pedro Zerbini (BRA) who outlasted 11th seeded Lofo Ramiaramanan (MAD), Deni Zmak (CRO) who beat Alin Mihai Constantin (ROM) and Jordan Rux who downed fellow American, Ryan Lipman (WC).

In the girl's 18 draw, Irini Camelia Begu (ROM) beat USA wild card, Julia Boserup, Chelsea Preeg ousted Ksenia Palkina (KGZ) and Teodora Mircic (SCG) defeated Veronica Rue-Qi Li (USA).

Last year's 16s are making their way in the 18s this year. 2005 16s Orange Bowl champion, Gueorgui Roumenov ( BUL) beat Harri Heliovaara (FIN), while still alive is the runner-up, French lucky loser, Stephane Piro, who upended Radu Albot (MDA).

Finally, Julia Glushko (ISR) outlasted qualifier, Michelle Larcher de Brito (POR) in a brilliant three setter, 6-4; 3-6; 7-6(3). The match that started at 9:00am, entertained spectators for over two and a half hours. "She is only 13," said Julia, after the emotionally draining match. "We are friends off the court and we play doubles together sometimes."

Chelsey Gullickson


Karina Pimkina


Nicolas Santos


Ilya Belyaev