Boys' Singles Quarter-Finals
Henry Wancke
Friday, July 5, 2024
Despite a delayed start and a 51-minute rain break, the Boys' Singles programme progressed in a satisfactory manner to reach the semi-final stage. The players emerging as strong contenders for the title are clearly the young Spaniard from Mallorca and the Australian Todd Reid from Sydney.
Spanish wild card entry Rafael Nadal-Parera has impressed from his opening match when he overcame the second seed in three sets. From that moment , his wins have become more emphatic and straightforward, although he had to raise his game to reach the last four.
The 16-year-old recovered well to turn his match around and beat the more favoured eighth seed, Germany's Phillipp Petzschner 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
His next opponent, Lamine Ouahab, will have taken note of that turnaround, having also had to regroup somewhat to beat the young Slovenian Luka Gregorc 3-6, 6-4, 6-1. Seeded seventh, the 16-year-old Algerian might well fancy his chances against the Spaniard, but Nadal-Parera has looked in fine form this week and it promises to be a close match.
In the top half, Belgium's Steve Darcis, 18, required three sets to dispatch the 13th seed from France, 17-year-old Mathieu Montcourt , 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. As the 11th seed, he was favourite to progress but he will have to raise his level of play if he is to make an impression on the fifth seed, Todd Reid, who has been frustrated by the rain delays on Friday which held him up when on the point of victory.
Leading 4-1 in the third, the two 18-year-olds were called off for 90-minutes to allow another weather front through. On their return, Reid reeled off two games to seal his 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 victory with an ace.
Speaking earlier, the teenager from Sydney, based in Sarasota, revealed his patience had been tested the past week.
"I played my first match last Saturday and didn't get called for my second round until yesterday. And then today," he said.
"All I've been doing is sitting around watching TV and listening to music. We have to stay around as there is a chance of being defaulted if you miss your match."
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