Saturday 30th Nov 2002
Nestor does a 360!
by Annie Paton
You can never count out Nestor Briceno. The flamboyant American can exasperate and entertain, all at the same time, but you can never say that he is boring. We have witnessed his unpredictable talent, but in today's boy's 18 semifinal he also showed another quality: patience.

Looking down for the count, spectators were preparing to accept the inevitable as Nestor appeared totally overwhelmed by the big serving Romanian, Horia Tecau. His journey, from qualifying to semifinals, seemed to be coming to an end. "I was trying to overpower him with big shots, but that wasn't working," said Nestor. "The harder I was hitting, the more he would get it back and then I would lose it and the ball would disappear over the bleachers." However, when Horia Tecau was serving at 6-2, 3-0, 40-15, Nestor had other ideas. "I did a 360 on my game," Nestor continued. "I was thinking this guy is not missing, so let me just change everything."

"He has one of the biggest serves of the tournament, so I started to slice it back to his backhand and make the points longer to see if I can make him tired, or miss, and get him a little desperate to win the point. I just started counter-punching. I went back to basics and tried to take him out of his rhythm. It was a drastic change because nothing else was working."

After exercising his new game plan, Nestor was rewarded with his first break of the match and reeled off the next six games to win the second set.

Displaying tremendous fitness, Nestor capitalized on the momentum and although both players had trouble holding in the third set, Nestor broke at 5-4 to win it on his second match point.

Nestor, who has played seven futures this year, said, "I am trying to enjoy this because you never know when it's going to end and you try to live at the moment."

Horia's doubles partner, Florin Mergea (5) (ROM) outlasted Florian Lemke (8) (GER) in the other exciting boy's 18 semifinal. Florin normally likes to charge the net but the tall German was making life difficult. "He was giving me high balls and I had to go in," said Florin. "I had to move him."

Florin had three match points in the second set tie breaker, but could not convert. The closely contested third set had only one break of serve and Florin served it out, to win 6-4; 6-7(10); 6-4.

The girl's semifinals have exactly the same score of 6-3; 7-5. Both were very close, with very little to separate them. Ana Ivanovic (13) (YUG) defeated Liana Balaci (6) (ROM) and Jarmila Gajdosova (2) (SVK) beat Katerina Bohmova (5) (CZE).

Unlike the other semifinalists, Ana has never played a WTA event and this is her first trip to an ITF junior circuit final. However, Jarmila is going to have her hands full tomorrow with the talented Yugoslavian, but she is used to the big occasion and has experience on her side.

Greg Ouellette (5) (USA) came back from behind to outlast Juan Pablo Amado (6) (ARG) in boy's 16 action, 2-6; 7-5; 6-3. Greg was due to play qualifying at the USTA International Winter championships, but because he is playing in the 16s final tomorrow, he is not allowed a special exempt into the 18s draw. Greg had to make the choice and elected to stay here and play the final.

In the other semifinal, Nykyta Kryvonos (15) (USA) defeated Yahor Puntus (USA) 6-1; 6-2. "He is pretty consistent but my shots were more powerful than his," said Nykyta. "I just overpowered him."

Nykyta reached the final of the 2002 Boys 16 Supernational Clay Courts, but since then he suffered a nagging back injury. "From the summer I am just starting to recover and practice," said Nykyta. "It was hard for me, but now I am fit."

Alisa Kleibanova (1) defeated Alina Sufiarova (6) in an all Russian girl's 16 semifinal. "I was really concentrating on every point, so I didn't make a lot of mistakes," said Alisa. "I was playing really consistent today." They met previously at the Russian Team championships this year. "We were supposed to play the team where she was, but she was number 3 and I was number 2, so I didn't have a chance to play against her."

Alisa attributes her success on court to a good warm up. "Before the match I had a really 'good practice with Aurelija Misevicuite," said Alisa. "That's why I was playing good today. I don't watch any of the matches. I just get on the court and play."

Andrea Remynse (7) (USA) winner over Bryce Marable (USA) will meet Alisa in the girl's 16 final.

Nestor Briceno's coach, Jaime Cortes from Miami, has another player in the finals tomorrow; Krysty Marcio (2) (USA) who defeated Lindsay Burdette (3) (USA) in the girl's 14 semifinal. It was a close contest with Krysty prevailing 6-4; 6-2.

Krysty had anticipated meeting her friend and doubles partner, Yvette Hyndman (1), in the final and she was not looking forward to it. "I would rather not play her because we are best friends. I played her last week at the Chanda Rubin and we had a really tough three set match. It was really tough playing each other, but I really like for both of us to make it to the final."

Wan-Ting Liu (CHN), winner of the 12s championship last year, won the other girl's 14 semifinal. Unseeded Liu upended Vika Azaranka (7) (BLR).

Unseeded Philip Bester (CAN) made it to the boy's 14 final, where he will face Pavel Tchekhov (11) (RUS). Philip defeated Jamie Hunt (USA) 6-2; 6-2 and Pavel beat Frederic De Fays (BEL) 6-2; 6-3.