Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Kecmanovic takes second title in a row
PLANTATION — In between raindrops at the Veltri Tennis Center, the topranked junior boy in the world confidently reaffirmed his lofty perch before moving on to the next level, while the top-ranked girl seemed to be looking ahead rather than at the ball in a straight-set loss.
Once the top-seeded Miomir Kecmanovic, who prefers Misha, held serve in a competitive first set, he cruised past his tired opponent, the second-seeded Yibing Wu of China, 6-3-6-1, to become the third junior to win consecutive Metropolia Orange Bowl International tennis championships in the Boys’ 18s division.
Billy Martin, now the UCLA men’s head coach, did it in 1973-74, and Fort Lauderdale’s Harold Solomon pulled off the Orange Bowl double in 1969-70 before finishing in the Top 10 as a professional in 1976 and 1978-80.
Kecmanovic, 17, also stroked his way to the arduous two-week sweep of the Grade 1 Eddie Herr International Tennis Championships on his home courts at IMG Academy in Bradenton, and the Grade A Orange Bowl. The last boy to do that was Dominic Thiem in 2011, the Austrian now ranked eighth on the ATP Tour.
“It’s a great accomplishment and I’m very happy about it,’’ said Kecmanovic, who didn’t drop a set in his six matches. “I didn’t put too much pressure into it because I knew I finished No. 1 no matter what I did here. I went in to play for myself and enjoy every match.’’
Wu, 17, who had never won more than a match in a Grade A event until this week, said he was gassed after playing six consecutive weeks in national tournaments throughout Asia.
“He always put pressure on me with very deep balls,’’ Wu said.
Kecmanovic hopes to follow in the Grand Slam footsteps of fellow Serb, Novak Djokovic, a three-time yearending No. 1. Kecmanovic said he would text his hero and occasional practice partner.
“When he first hit No. 1, tennis exploded after that,’’ said Kecmanovic, who will turn pro before 2017. “It’s very good to do good here, but more important to do good after next year when I transition.’’
The Boys’ and Girls’ 18s finals, played on adjacent Har-Tru clay courts, were delayed for 90 minutes by rain, and both finished within seconds of each other.
Moments after Kecmanovic pumped his fist after turning a delicate drop shot from Wu into an easy forehand pass on match point, ninth-seeded Kaja Juvan of Slovenia, wrapped up a more routine 6-1, 6-4 victory over Anastasia Potapova, who like Kecmanovic, had clinched the year-ending world No. 1 rank before the tournament began.
“I felt some pressure because you’re first and have to play the best here,’’ said Potapova, 15, the reigning Wimbledon Junior champion from Russia. “She played really well, her best tennis.’’
Potapova, a fan of fellow Muscovite Maria Sharapova, then announced this was her final junior tournament.
Juvan, 16, was brimming with confidence after beating Potapova in a Grade A clay-court tournament in Milan in May.
“I learned it’s possible to actually beat some of the best players,’’ Juvan said of Milan. “Before that I didn’t trust myself.’’
Juvan used the wind gusts to her favor, with slices and lobs against an opponent who prefers pace.
“I just told myself, ‘Don’t sleep, keep playing, keep jumping,’ ’’ smiled Juvan.
The victory not only brought her oranges which don’t get along with her braces, but also won a bet with coach Roberto Cokan, forcing him to dye his brown hair blonde.
“I’m so proud of myself for this and am ready to train for next season and hope to be even better. I got motivation,’’ she said. …
In an all-Japanese Boys’ 18s doubles final, the fourthseeded tandem of Toru Horie and Yuta Shimizu rolled past Shinji Hazawa and Naoki Tajima, 6-2, 6-1. Shimizu also won the OB doubles title last year.