27st March 2007
Movers & Shakers Update
by Rose Mather
16 year old Canadian Vasek Pospisil (right) scored a big one at the 10k F3 Futures in Canada, winning the men's doubles title with countryman Erik Chvojka.

No winners for the girls playing in the big leagues this week but plenty of quarterfinal and up showings. Biggest win goes to Stefanie Vogele SUI making it into the finals at the 25k Mumbai in India, while Sorana Mihaela Cirstea ROM reached the semifinals at the 25k Tenerife in Spain. Sorana is scheduled to play at the Luxilon Cup this week, a junior event held at the Sony Ericsson Open.

Meanwhile in Israel at the 10k Raanana, two of the four juniors making into the top eight were semifinalists, Farida Karaieva UKR and Vlada Ekshibarova UZB. Qualifiers Michaela Pochabova SVK and Oksana Kalashnikova GEO worked their way into the semis at the 10k Cairo in Egypt and last semi showing was in the 25k Coatzacoalcos in Mexico by Mariana Duque Marino COL.

Quarterfinalists for this past week are Sasha Jones NZL at the 25k Kalgoorlie in Australia, Wan Ting Liu CHN in Mumbai India, Estelle Guisard FRA and qualifier Alexandra Grela BEL in France at the 10k Amiens. Last but not least at the 10k Raanana in Israel, Aleksandra Malyarchikova BLR and Julia Glushko ISR.

Not many junior ITF events but with a grade A and grade 1 in the mix the rankings should shuffle dramatically. Ling Zhang CHN stepped up her game to take the singles winner's trophy and the doubles finals trophy and John Patrick Smith AUS followed suit to do the same at the Sarawak Chief Minister's Cup in Malaysia. With the points earned Ling moved into 32nd place up from the 60th spot.

Exciting time down in Brazil at the Copa Gerdau as two of their own kept the country's hopes alive until the finals. However, Vladimir Ignatic BLR denied Fernando Romboli BRA in the boys championship and Cindy Chala FRA would not relinquish the title to Roxane Vaisemberg BRA in the girl's. Runner-up Fernando can take some comfort by reaching the finals moving up another notch in the rankings to 3rd place and Roxane leapt from 25th to the 16th slot. Not unexpected with Grade A points, Cindy catapulted from 176th position to 46th while Vladimir jumped into the 17th position from 56th.

Top seed Haley Martin stopped unseeded Sachia Vickery to take the girl's 14 championship trophy at the Maureen Connolly Brinker Cup. This USTA event is held each year in the USA. Haley joins the list of champions such as Amy Simidian, Christina McHale, and Holly Johnson.

SFAX, held in Tunisia racked up some points for winners, David Goffin BEL and Khristina Mladenovic FRA. This is the first singles ITF junior title for both players.

Last week's Nigeria winner Henry Atseye NGR made it back to back wins, taking the boy's singles title at Benin, part of the West Africa Junior Circuit. The girl's winner Christi Potgieter RSA stepped up to the podium in singles and doubles for the second week in a row.

2007 Movers & Shakers: