One of the two biggest under 14 events takes place this week - Les Petits As in Tarbes, France. The traditional warm-up tournament in Bolton produced only modest success for the British girls, with Anastasia Mikheeva winning the consolation event, after an early exit from the main draw. Katie Swan, Brandon Drew and Max Stewart were the most successful in the singles events, losing in the quarters.
Among the qualifiers is Francesca Jones, who played in the Orange Bowl under 12 event
Boys R1 (L64)
(12) Nikolay Vylegzhanin (RUS) v (Q) Finn Bass (GBR)
Roman Blokhin (RUS) v Jack Molloy (GBR)
Patrick Kypson (USA) v Max Stewart (GBR)
(8) Philipp Klimov (RUS) v (Q) Brandon Drew (GBR)
(Q) Dominic West (GBR) v Igor Karpovets (UKR)
Girls R1 (L64)
Anastasia Mikheeva (GBR) v Inci Ogut (TUR)
(Q) Francesca Jones (GBR) v (8) Evgeniya Levashova (RUS)
Katie Swan (GBR) v (WC) Sophia Mejerovits (GER)
(WC) Inasse Hamouti (FRA) v Georgina Axon (GBR)
Jodie Anna Burrage (GBR) v (WC) Lucie Devier (FRA)
Most of the girls played today. Sadly Katie retired again (as in the Orange Bowl) but the others won, along with Max
Boys R1 (L64)
(12) Nikolay Vylegzhanin (RUS) v (Q) Finn Bass (GBR) Tue Roman Blokhin (RUS) d. Jack Molloy (GBR) 6-4 6-3 Max Stewart (GBR) d. Patrick Kypson (USA) 6-3 6-1 (8) Philipp Klimov (RUS) v (Q) Brandon Drew (GBR) Tue (Q) Dominic West (GBR) v Igor Karpovets (UKR) Tue
Girls R1 (L64)
Anastasia Mikheeva (GBR) d. Inci Ogut (TUR) 6-1 6-3 (Q) Francesca Jones (GBR) v (8) Evgeniya Levashova (RUS) Tue (WC) Sophia Mejerovits (GER) d. Katie Swan (GBR) 1-6 6-3 2-0 rtd Georgina Axon (GBR) d. (WC) Inasse Hamouti (FRA) 6-2 6-3 Jodie Anna Burrage (GBR) d. (WC) Lucie Devier (FRA) 6-1 6-0
The remainder R1 matches were completed today, with no joy for the 4 Brits - 3 playing seeds. In round 2 the 3 remaining girls all play Russian seeds at 7.30am with live scoring available at http://www.lespetitsas.com/gp/Matches-en-direct/40 Max plays late in the afternoon
Boys R1 (L64)
(12) Nikolay Vylegzhanin (RUS) d. (Q) Finn Bass (GBR) 3-6 6-2 6-1 Roman Blokhin (RUS) d. Jack Molloy (GBR) 6-4 6-3 Max Stewart (GBR) d. Patrick Kypson (USA) 6-3 6-1 (8) Philipp Klimov (RUS) d. (Q) Brandon Drew (GBR) 3-6 6-4 6-2 (Q) Dominic West (GBR) d. Igor Karpovets (UKR) 6-2 7-5
R2
Yshai Oliel (ISR) v Max Stewart (GBR)
Girls R1 (L64)
Anastasia Mikheeva (GBR) d. Inci Ogut (TUR) 6-1 6-3 (8) Evgeniya Levashova (RUS) d. (Q) Francesca Jones (GBR) 6-0 6-2 (WC) Sophia Mejerovits (GER) d. Katie Swan (GBR) 1-6 6-3 2-0 rtd Georgina Axon (GBR) d. (WC) Inasse Hamouti (FRA) 6-2 6-3 Jodie Anna Burrage (GBR) d. (WC) Lucie Devier (FRA) 6-1 6-0
R2
Anastasia Mikheeva (GBR) v (15) Anastasia Gasanova (RUS) (5) Anna Ureke (RUS) v Georgina Axon (GBR) Jodie Anna Burrage (GBR) v (9) Valeriya Yushchenko (RUS)
Nastya had a fine win to keep British interest in the girls event, but will need a better one tomorrow against the top seed. Max is on Court Central at present but is 2-5 down
Girls R2
Anastasia Mikheeva (GBR) d. (15) Anastasia Gasanova (RUS) 6-7(4) 7-5 6-3 (5) Anna Ureke (RUS) d. Georgina Axon (GBR) 6-0 7-5 (9) Valeriya Yushchenko (RUS) d. Jodie Anna Burrage (GBR) 6-1 6-1
R3
(1) Andreea Amelia Rosca (ROU) v Anastasia Mikheeva (GBR)
Max recovered superbly to not only knock out the Israeli, but follow that up with another win this afternoon. He plays in the quarterfinals tomorrow afternoon, with live scoring on the above link, but Nastya's attempt to oust the top seed today ended very quickly. At the moment the top 1999 trio seem to be well behind the 98's at a similar stage
Boys R2
Max Stewart (GBR) d. Yshai Oliel (ISR) 2-6 6-4 6-0
R3
Max Stewart (GBR) d. (WC) Corentin Moutet (FRA) 6-2 6-7(8) 6-3
I thinks thats primarily because our top 98 girls are unusually strong rather than 1999 being particularly weak.
Agreed - I compared because a number of people have expressed great hope of future success for both groups
Meanwhile Max continues to impress, following up his win over the Bolton champion to become our first semifinalist in the boys since Luke Bambridge. His semi-final opponent hasn't been troubled in his 4 matches so far
QF
Max Stewart (GBR) d. (9/WC) Alexei Popyrin (AUS) 6-3 5-7 6-2
I thinks thats primarily because our top 98 girls are unusually strong rather than 1999 being particularly weak.
I'm particularly excited about Katie Swan of all the 1999 girls. She's quite tall for her age, without being a giant, and has a decent serve and solid forehand. She defeated Anastasia Mikheeva quite easily at nationals last year and gave Gabriella Taylor a good match in the final. It's a shame she had to retire in her match this week after a good showing last week.
Max lost 6-4 6-2 so isn't able to emulate Liam Broady and Laura Robson as the most recent British finalists, but an impressive tournament for him nevertheless
Max has continued his fine start to the year by winning the Category 1 event in Portugal today, defeating home favourite Duarte Vale 6-2 6-1 in the final, and didn't drop a set all week.
This week there is a major Category 1 event in Italy. Anastasia Mikheeva and Jodie Anna Burrage have reached the semis, seeded 11 and 12. Georgina Axon lost early in singles, but all three reached the semis in the doubles.