by Ian Marshall, Editor
The fact that all four now have considerable experience of playing beyond the shores of the American continent was undoubtedly a telling factor.
Impressively, Kanak Jha, after accounting Argentina’s Leandro Fuentes, the no.9 seed (11-6, 11-2, 11-7, 11-7), overcame Peru’s Rodrigo Hidalgo, the no.15 seed (11-6, 11-2, 11-7, 11-7), the winner one round earlier in opposition the only player, who in the main draw of the Boys’ Singles event, raised eyebrows.
He beat Peru’s Felipe Duffoo, a young man whose name does not appear on the current Under 18 Boys’ World Rankings. In the opening round he caused quite a stir by ousting Brazil’s Eduardo Tomoike, the no.6 seed (13-11, 8-11, 13-11, 12-10, 9-11, 10-12, 11-6).
Otherwise, matters advanced very much according to plan.
Sharon Alguetti, the no.2 seed, reserved his semi-final place by defeating Canada’s Jeremy Hazin, the no.7 seed, in what was to prove the most highly contested of the four quarter-finals; a six games verdict was the end result (7-11, 14-12, 11-5, 4-11, 12-10, 11-4).
Testing times for Sharon Alguetti, life was less dramatic for Nicolas Burgos, the no.3 seed and for Guilherme Teodoro, the no.4 seed; both recorded quarter-final wins in opposition to Argentine adversaries. Nicolas Burgos defeated Martin Bentancor, the no.5 seed (11-4, 11-9, 11-6, 11-7); Guilherme Teodoro ended the aspirations of Santiago Lorenzo, the no.8 seed (11-8, 12-10, 3-11, 11-8, 11-3).
At the semi-final stage, Kanak Jha meets Nicolas Burgos, Guilherme Teodoro opposes Sharon Alguetti; play concludes in Santo Domingo on Sunday 15th July.
