Well, no one is perfect and today (eventually it was sunny and matches were regularly played on clay: thank you) Queen Clara has lost real badly, 6-2 6-2, against Carol Monnet. Ok, no prob, these things can happen. I would just be curious to know why Clara came to Milan (and be aware, I am still very happy and thankful she did, even if she failed): for many different reasons, she basically had nothing to win and much to lose. Maybe she preferred to prepare for Roland Garros by playing a junior tournament, and not a 25k or 60k. Anyhow, even Nadal didn’t win for three tournaments in a row, so I guess Tauson is allowed her too to lose sometimes. And all the credit to Carol Monnet for the great exploit, of course.
The above was the great upset of the day; but there was another one, even more interesting and surprising, in some ways: Diana Shnaider, born in 2004 and whose results I noticed a few months ago, is continuing to win and no one seems able to stop her. Last week she won Santacroce, and it was already her fourth ITF title and first Grade 1. She then arrived to Milan beaten Garland, the fifth seed of the draw, without experiencing too many troubles. I really hope I manage to see this girl in the next days, as she seems to be a sort of new Gauff, judging from her results.
My Anastasia Berezov did real bad today, but this was not a complete surprise, even if I hoped for something better: as some of you may have red (since I wrote on it in my last article, and deleted the relevant paragraph some hour after uploading it, for some reasons) and also as correctly pointed out in a comment, this was one of the first clay court matches in Anastasia’s life. However, her opponent, American Robin Montgomerie (not Colin, who is Scottish and is not a junior) seems to be another very interesting player born in 2004; and she may not be done yet, as her next opponent is the Korean Park, who does not seem to me unbeatable.
We even have a girl born in 2005 still in the draw, even if this is not a surprise, as she is already a well known player: Linda Fruhvirtova has managed to beat Indonesian Nugroho, by 6-1 3-6 7-6, in what has been said to be by far the best match of the tournament. It took literally hours to Linda to dismiss her opponent, and I am sad I lost that battle (which was held in a dump, possibly, as yesterday rained again for some part of the day).
I managed to watch only bits of some matches today, going to the club during the lunch break. I finally saw Elli Mandlik – N.B.O. (oohh.. N.B.O.), who has become a more mature player: she didn’t experience any particular troubles against Suiss Granwehr and she confirmed to be very elegant, a joy to see, at least as long as she remains concentrated. Of course, the small frame does not help her and she will need more time to definitively emerge (on the pro-tour I mean) than Gauffs & Co. I really hope she can make it, anyway. I saw some shots by Lisa Pigato, so solid but maybe missing the big winner. She won by 6-2 6-4 against German Akugue, but tomorrow she will play against Emma Navarro, in my view the hot favourite now that Clara is out. Honestly, and I hope to be wrong, Pigato’s chances are slim.
Boys: great job from Furlanetto, who has beaten the third seed Virtanen in three tight set. Even better job from Striker who has beaten the second seed, Yunchaokete (or something like that). But the great match is planned for tomorrow: American Emilio Nava, the first seed, is scheduled to play against Spanish Alcaras Garcia who I heard to be an outstanding player: the ranking seems to confirm this, as he was born in 2003 and already occupies the 37th spot (best ranking 25).
Tomorrow maybe I go for some time, maybe not. Thursday, the same. In case I go, I will write something fast as today, otherwise, updates will come after the semifinals
