Los octavos de final en ambas llaves resultaron en una programación más manejable con solamente 8 partidos de sencillos en cada llave.  En el lado varonil siguen 12 de 16 jugadores sembrados con solamente las siembras 5, 7, 15, y 16 eliminados. Los 5 y 7 fueron desplazados por Leo BORG de suecia y JC RODDICK de USA en la segunda vuelta y ambos jugadores traen al torneo un distinguido árbol genealógico tenístico. En tercera vuelta BORG domino a Juncheng SHANG (CHN) 6-2, 6-3 pero RODDICK tuvo más dificultad con Jackson ANTHROP de USA prevaleciendo por 3-6, 7-6, 7-5.

¿Tendremos una final de ensueño de BORG/RODDICK? Suave, suave dicen los sembrados 1 y 2 Dali BLANCH de USA y Natan RODRIGUEZ de Brasil. BLANCH continúa su búsqueda a la final (logrado por su hermano Ulises hace 4 años) y finalmente perdió un set contra Axel GARCIAN de francia por 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 pero sigue intimidante con sus golpes duros. Natan RODRIGUEZ doblegó a Jin GU de la china 6-2, 6-4, así manteniendo su posición en la segunda mitad de la llave. Otros talentosos jugadores también siguen disputando el camino a la final. Estos incluyen a BOSCARDIN (10) de brasil, KUZUHARA de USA, DE ALBA VALDES (4) de méxico, y SADAOUI (11) de francia.

La llave femenil continúa con su gran apertura en cuanto las siembras mayores siguen cayendo. La  no. 1 Julia GARCIA de méxico cayó ante Alexis BLOKHINA de USA 7-6, 6-2 así como la otra mexicana Alejandra CRUZ sembrada 5 ante Rebecca LYNN de USA (11) por marcador 7-5, 6-2. Solamente las siembras 8, 11, 15, y 16 permanecen en la llave lo que significa que un puesto en la final es posible para cualquiera de las jugadoras que quedan.

Las no sembradas Melisa ERCAN de turquía y Alexia HARMON de USA continúan ganando en la mitad de la llave. HARMON es una jugadora que llama la atención en cuanto sigue ganando con facilidad, habiendo despachado a la sembrada 6 VAN IMPE de bégica por 6-0, 6-1 en la segunda vuelta. Sofia ROJAS y Nevena CARTON, ambas de USA también han ganado con facilidad. Otra jugadora notable es la serbia Lola RADIVOJEVIC (15) quien eliminó a la dificil Tanisha KASYAP de la india en 3 sets. KASHYAP había derrotado a la no. 2 Tara MALIK de USA por 6-0, 6-4 en la segunda vuelta. Sí, esta llave se la lleva cualquiera de las jugadoras.

En semifinal varonil el sembrado 1 Shintaro MOCHIZUKI de Japón derrotó a Blu BAKER de Inglaterra en un reñido partido a 3 sets, con marcador 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. Esto fue la primera vez que MOCHIZUKI perdió un set durante el torneo. BAKER jugó con fortaleza y tuvo un buen torneo pero las tácticas del japonés de entrar a net y jugar todo terreno cansaron al británico sembrado 4.

En la otra semifinal varonil el jugador de gran saque y golpes duros Martin DAMM de USA, hijo de un jugador ATP checo del mismo nombre, despachó a Alex MARTINEZ de España, ganando por marcador 6-4, 6-4. MARTINEZ tiene familia en Costa Rica y era el favorito de los aficionados pero no pudo mantenerse ante la fuerza de DAMM aunque el español es 2 años mayor. En segunda vuelta DAMM desalojó al sembrado 2 MALAN de Sur Africa para tomar el lugar del último puesto en la llave y ahora se encuentra en la final con el japonés que ocupa el primer lugar de la llave.

Ambos jugadores nacieron en el 2003. El lector debe juzgar por sí mismo cuál de los 2 ha logrado mayor desempeño para llegar a esta final, y cuál debe ser el favorito. MOCHIZUKI es extremadamente agil, sube a net con frecuencia, tiene un gran tiro de smash y además una gran devolución de servicio. DAMM dispone de un muy fuerte saque y pega duro en sus golpes de gran precisión, así gastando a los competidores.

El camino a la final de MOCHIZUKI ha sido:             
vuelta                 jugador                 país                    ranking            siembra                  1                      CASSONE              USA                      248                    no                   2                      HECK                      USA                      202                    no                   3                      DALE                       USA                      147                    14                
QF                   PARK                       KOR                     126                    11                
SF                   BAKER                    GBR                        97                      4

DAMM ha llegado conquistando a:             
vuelta                 jugador                  país                  ranking            siembra                  1                      VINAS                     ARG                      531                  no                   2                      MALAN                    RSA                        87                    2                   3                      BERNARD              USA                      190                   no                
QF                   LEE                         USA                      124                   10                 
SF                   MARTINEZ              ESP                      215                   no 

En la semifinal femenil la no sembrada canadiense Melodie COLLARD continuó siendo la revelación del torneo, sobreviviendo y domando a la muy capaz jugadora sembrada 14 Charlotte OWENSBY de USA en un difícil encuentro a 3 sets, con marcador 6-1, 6-7, 7-5. Melodie ha deleitado a la afición con su estilo poco usual de todo terreno, incursionando a net con frecuencia, voleando, y defendiendo globos con su fuerte smash. Fue un partido emocionante hasta el final donde OWENSBY se defendió hasta el último 7-5.

El otro partido de semifinal de damas fue acreditado a la no sembrada Abigail FORBES de USA ranqueada 418 quien le ganó a su compañera de práctica Gabriella PRICE (USA), ranqueada 38 y sembrada 2. PRICE parece tener los golpes más clásicos y vistosos y voló durante el torneo sin perder un set hasta la SF. Sin embargo FORBES, una jugadora muy capaz quien jugará para la universidad UCLA en setiembre, quizás tenía una leve ventaja en mayor volumen de cuerpo y 2 años más de experiencia, nacida en 2001 vs 2003 para PRICE.

COLLARD juega todo terreno y es más atrevida en sus tácticas pero FORBES es jugadora fuerte y resistente que quizás podrá manejar mejor la presión del momento y defenderse. Ambas jugadoras no están sembradas y se ubican en los 400´s del ranking mundial ITF. (COLLARD = 441, FORBES = 418). Juzgue por sí mismo cuál de las 2 jugadoras ha tenido mayores logros para llegar a esta final, y cuál será la favorita.

El camino de COLLARD a la final ha sido:             
vuelta                 jugadora                país                 ranking            siembra                 
1                        NOEL                      USA                    15                      1                  
2                        PLAZAS                  COL                  264                    no                  
3                        KARNER                 AUT                  382                    no                 QF                     GARCIA GROSS    USA                  708                    no                 SF                      OWENSBY             USA                  150                    14

FORBES ha llegado por:             
vuelta                 jugadora                país                  ranking           siembra                   
1                        CHAVARRIA          CRC                   990                    no                 
2                        CCUNO                 PER                     99                      7                  
3                        INOUE                   USA                   140                    12                 QF                     DEFALCO              USA                   184                    10                SF                     PRICE                    USA                     38                      2 

La Llave de Calificación para la Copa del Café no. 55 comenzó sábado 12 de enero bajo un cielo celeste y un tiempo perfecto de tenis. En total, se disputaron 24 partidos, 16 varonil y 8 femenil.

En la llave varonil los resultados en general se ajustaron a lo anticipado en cuanto 14 de 16 sembrados progresaron a la segunda vuelta, con sorpresas sobre los sembrados 12 y 14 por Jameson CORSILLO (USA) y Francisco ARCE VIEYRA (MEX) respectivamente. La Llave femenil incluyó solamente 8 siembras y todas pasaron a la segunda vuelta por modalidad de Bye. Los 8 partidos jugados fueron disputados entre jugadoras sin ranking, principalmente jugadoras locales deseando entrar a la Llave Principal.

La acción tenística de mañana definirá los últimos puestos de las Llaves Principales, llegando así al límite de 64 jugadores. Partidos de las Llaves Principales comenzarán temprano el lunes 14 de enero.

La conferencia de prensa para la Copa no. 55 se llevó a cabo ayer martes 8 de enero 2019, revelando la lista de jugadores inscritos para la Copa 2019. Las siembras no. 1 son Shintaro MOCHIZUKI de japón (no. 82 mundial) y Alexandra NOEL de USA (ranqueada no. 15).

Ambas llaves indican un alto nivel de talento tenístico con 5 top 100 jugadores por el lado varonil de 5 diferentes países, y 19 top 200. La lista femenil incluye 7 top 100 de 5 países, y 21 jugadoras dentro de las primeras 200.

El corte varonil a la posición 46 ha sido 343, y del lado femenil 460, así reflejando un elenco fuerte de jugadores. De los primeros 46 jugadores en ambas Llaves Principales, 19 varones (41%) y 17 damas (37%) regresan de la Copa del Café 2018.

La lista varonil ahora incluye 111 nombres desde una inscripción total de 211, y del lado femenil actualmente se incluyen 82 jugadoras desde una inscripción total de 187 jugadoras que se disputan los 64 puestos de cada Llave Principal. Esto significa que el Qualy varonil probablemente incluirá un complemento completo de 32 jugadores, mientras que habrán varios “byes” en el Qualy femenil donde toda jugadora en la lista tendrá oportunidad de jugar por lo menos el Qualy.

La Copa no. 55 entonces dará comienzo oficial el sábado 12 de enero 2019 con las Llaves de Calificación, a ser completada el domingo para así definir los últimos 8 puestos de la Llave Principal que comienza temprano el lunes 14 de enero.  Los invitamos a unirse a la acción tenistica.

The 4 finals of the 58^th Copa del Café were played on 28 January 2023. The winners are:

Boys Singles      Thijs BOOGAARD of Holland who beat Roy HOROVITS [5] of USA 6-4, 6-4

Girls Singles       Iva JOVIC [3] of USA who beat Mika BUCHNIK of Israel by 6-3, 6-2

Boy s Doubles    Nicolai BUDKOV KJAER of Norway and Henry SEARLE of Great Britain [4]
                           who beat Ofek SHIMANOV of Israel and Tristan Stringer of USA by 6-4, 7-5

Girls Doubles     Tyra GRANT of USA and Iva JOVIC of USA who beat Claire AN of USA and
                           Alanis HAMILTON of USA by 6-3, 6-4

We congratulate the winners and finalists on a great tournament and invite them to return in 2024, age permitting, for our 59^th Copa del Café.

The Tournament Committee thanks all players, coaches, and parents who have come to our Tournament and wish them well in their careers and travel. We also thank our sponsors without whose support our event could not happen, our tireless tennis staff who fill the many roles necessary behind the scenes, the CRCC maintenance and administrative staff who provide logistics for the Copa, and the Club Board of Directors who provide strong backing for this national sports event. We also thank our readers and followers and invite you to visit with us again in January of 2024.

Tennis fans were treated Friday to 4 well played and entertaining semifinals in Stadium Court, starting at 3pm with the girls matches followed by the 2 boys matchups in night play.

In the first match third seed Iva JOVIC of USA defeated her friend and travelmate Alanis HAMILTON in straight sets by 6-4, 6-4 which went by the book in terms of ranking and WTN index with the best rated girl prevailing. But this matchup is not over as JOVIC- HAMILTON will square off once again in the girls doubles final. In the other girls match unseeded Israeli Mika BUCHNIK upset second seed Kaitlin QUEVEDO of USA in straight sets by the same 6-4, 6-4 score. Mika has been the surprise of the girls draw, playing well above what her WTN rating of 16.93 indicates and now will face JOVIC in the final.

In the boys SF the Dutchman 15 year old  wunderkind Thijs BOOGAARD fought back Qualifier Maxwell EXSTED of USA in a thrilling 3 sets 5-7, 6-2, 6-1. Tennis aficionados could not ask for more than these 2 top players delivered. In the last match American 5^th seed Roy HOROVITS defeated the 7^th seed Englishman Henry SEARLE in straight sets 6-3. 6-4. Both players were very evenly matched in terms of ranking and rating so it was perhaps surprising for Roy to win rather easily.  

Saturday Finals are to begin at 4pm on Stadium Court starting with Girls Doubles featuring all players from USA Tyra GRANT – Iva JOVIC vs. Claire AN – Alanis HAMILTON. GRANT/JOVIC, who won the Orange Bowl doubles togethre, are probably favorites. The Boys Doubles follows, featuring Ofek SHIMANOV (ISR) – Tristan STRINGER (USA) vs. Nicolai BUDKOV KJAER (NOR) – Henry SEARLE (GBR), is probably a tossup. The Girls Singles Final starting not before 6:30pm will be JOVIC-BUSHNIK, followed by the Boys Singles of HOROVITS-BOOGARD.

In the singles matchups, who will be the favorite? The reader should decide. Following are data about each player`s road to the final to help make this determination.

Iva JOVIC, from USA, seeded 3, ranked 35, WTN 11.35
round   opponent               country   WTN    seed/ranking       score    
1           Maelie MONFILS    France     15.11       no / 140             6-0, 6-3    
2           Annelin BAKKER    Holland    15.78       no / 111              6-0, 6-0
QF        Tyra GRANT           USA         17.79       no / 255              6-3,3-0, Ret
SF         Alanis HAMILTON  USA         12.12       no / 147              6-4, 6-4

Mika BUCHNIK, from Israel, unseeded, ranked 102, WTN 16.93
round   opponent               country   WTN    seed/ranking     score    
1           Tianmei WANG       USA         12.82       no / 614           7-6, 7-6    
2            Isabelle LACY        Britain      14.48         8 / 66             2-6, 6-3, 6-0
QF         Gloriana NAHUM   Benin       16.88       no / 126           6-4,6-1   
SF          Kaitlin QUEVEDO  USA         11.34         2 / 21             6-4, 6-4

Roy HOROVITZ, from USA, seeded 5, ranked 79, WTN 10.13
round   opponent               country   WTN    seed/ranking     score    
1            Nicolai BUDKOV    Norway    13.34        no / 107         6-4, 6-0    
2            Luis FERRAZ         Brazil        14.47       no / 247         6-3, 6-2   
QF         Petr BRUNCLIK     Czechia    13.13         3 / 66           3-6, 6-2, 6-2
SF         Henry SEARLE       Britain      10.34         7 / 81            6-3, 6-4

Thijs BOOGARD, from Netherlands, unseeded, ranked 98, WTN 12.79
round   opponent               country  WTN    seed/ranking     score    
1           Tristan STRINGER USA       14.47         no / 99            6-1, 6-0    
2           Duncan CHAN        Canada  11.43          6 / 80             6-7, 6-3, 6-2
QF        Alex RAZEGHI        USA         8.63          4 / 77             6-2,6-2   
SF        Maxwell EXSTED    USA       11.28         Q / 173           5-7, 6-2, 6-1

Thursday quarterfinal day at the 2023 Copa del Café featured 8 singles and 4 doubles matches starting at noon, so that by the end of the night only 4 boys and 4 girls were alive in singles and the 2 doubles draws had defined finalists. During the afternoon there was a threat of a light drizzle but this quickly evaporated.

In the boys draw the talented 7^th seed Henry SEARLE of GBR ranked 81 in the world handled the unseeded American Nikita FILIN in straight sets 6-2, 7-5. Henry is strong and experienced and has cruised through the draw up to this point and is a formidable competitor. He is also a doubles finalist with Norwegian Nicolai BUDKOV KJAER so regardless will stick around until Saturday when all 4 finals will be played starting in the afternoon.

Henry`s semifinalist opponent will be 5th seed American Roy HOROVITZ, ranked 79. Roy defeated 3<sup>rd</sup> seed Petr BRUNCLIK from Czech Republic ranked 66 in 3 sets 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 in a tough match that on paper seems to be a mild upset, but Roy`s superior WTN rating of 10.13 vs. 13.13 for BRUNCLIK suggests otherwise. Roy will now face off against the Englishman in a match that is too close to call. In terms of ranking Roy is 79 vs. 81 for Henry, and in terms of WTN Roy is slightly better than Henry`s 10.34.

In the lower half of the draw there are no seeded players left. One of the semifinal slots has been taken by 15 year old wild card Thijs BOOGAARD from Holland. He surprised Duncan CHAN of Canada seeded 6 in the second round and in quarterfinals dispatched the tough American Alexander RAZEGHI ranked 77 and seeded 4 by a comfortable 6-2, 6-2. This was bit of a shock since RAZEGHI boasts the best WTN rating in the tournament by a good margin, 8.63. Thijs last year won the prestigious international tournament Le Petit As near Toulouse, France. This tournament is for 14 year olds and the hall of fame includes names that perhaps the reader has heard of: Djokovic, Federer, Ferrero, Murray, Nadal, Wawrinka, etc.,etc., etc.  The Dutchman will be a force to contend with.

BOOGAARD`s opponent will be unseeded American Maxwell EXSTED ranked 173 who has come in from the Qualy. On paper his credentials are less impressive than the others, but tennis matches are not played on paper. On the courts Max has cruised through the draw without dropping a set eliminating: no. 2 seed Phoeniz WEIR of GBR in the first round in straight sets, 7-6(6), 6-2,  the tough American Stiles BROCKETT by 6-4, 6-1 in the second round and the talented Chilean Benjamin TORREALBA by 6-2, 6-1 in the QF. Let`s see what happens in this matchup.

In the Girls draw the talented and steady Alanis HAMILTON of USA dispatched fellow American Valeria RAY seeded 6 by a comfortable 6-2, 6-3. Alanis is a quiet girl who plays better than her ranking of 147 suggests and has the third best WTN rating in the field (12.12). She is graceful and composed on court and is also a doubles finalist with fellow American Claire AN.

HAMILTON will face Iva JOVIC of USA ranked 35 and seeded 3. Iva defeated her doubles partner Tyra GRANT in the QF as GRANT retired due to an injury that perhaps was more strategic than real since in their subsequent doubles match against Ruby COOLING of GBR and Natalia PEREZ of Puerto Rico GRANT played extremely well poaching every ball in sight. JOVIC  is a crafty and strong player and shares the best WTN rating in the tournament with QUEVEDO. Iva has won her previous matches by 6-0, 6-3, and by 6-0, 6-0 and is a very difficult opponent for any player. She is also in the doubles final with GRANT.

In the bottom half of the draw unseeded Mika BUCHNIK from Israel has earned her slot by defeating Gloria NAHUM of Benin 6-4, 6-1 taking all the African could muster.  Mika had earlier dispatched Isabelle LACY of Britain in a hard fought match, similarly taking all the talented LACY could come up with, in the end outlasting her opponents. The Israeli player is not flashy but has superb defensive skills and displays serenity on court. She should not be underestimated. BUCHNIK is ranked 102 and has a WTN rating of 16.93.

The last semifinalist is no. 2 seed American Kaitlin QUEVEDO. Kaitlin is a tough competitor and last night came back from match point down to defeat the determined Austrian no. 5 seed Tamara KOSTIC by 2-6, 7-6(6), 6-1 in a thrilling match. Her earlier matches were easy wins over unseeded and less ranked  opponents so her first big test was against the Austrian. Ranked 21 and with the best WTN rating (shared with JOVIC) in the field Kaitlin has the credentials, but must once again meet the challenge against the determined Israeli BUCHNIK.

It never rains in the Costa Rica Central Valley in late January  since it is high dry season, except when it does, such as Wednesday  evening of Copa week. After the day session had finished, and just before night play was to commence, a light drizzle shut down Stadium Court. But the referee and Tournament Committee improvised and opened the covered courts, which are also hard courts, and the public was able to watch the 3 matches of night play from adjacent courts, standing room only. The last time this happened was in 2005 in a final between Robin HAASE of Netherlands and Juan Martin DEL POTRO  of Argentina (HAASE won).

Four seeded players remain in the boys draw, 3 of them in the top half: Henry SEARLE of GBR, Petr BRUNCLIK of CZE, and Roy HOROVITZ of USA. The other slot was taken by Nikita FILIN  of USA who had ousted the top seed in the first round. FILIN beat Israeli Ofek SHIMANOV in a tough match 7-6 (5) in the third set which was good to see since SHIMANOV looked lackluster in his earlier win against Costa Rican Nicolas GARNIER. SEARLE won as his German opponent Lasse POERTNER retired due to injury, and BRUNCLIK dispatched the game Englishman Oliver BONDING despite the British player`s superior WTN rating. Roy HOROVITZ ranked 79 had an easier time (6-3, 6-2) over Brazilean Luis FERRAZ who had a good tournament coming in from the Qualy ranked 247.

In the bottom half of the boys draw Alexander RAZEGHI of USA, who has the best WTN rating in the tournament (8.63) is the only remaining seed. The other 3 slots are held by wild card Thijs BOOGARD of Netherlands, Benjamin TORREALBA of Chile, and Qulaifier Max EXSTED of USA who had earlier eliminated the no. 2 seed. BOOGARD won his slot by defeating 6^th seed Duncan CHAN of Canada, and TORREALBA benefited from a walkover as his German opponent Diego DEDURA apparently suffered a case of food poisoning and could not play. EXSTED, in from the Qualy, handled hard hitting Stiles BROCKETT of USA relatively easily by 6-4, 6-1, and could be a sleeper going forward.

In the girls draw 4 seeds remain of the 8 quarterfinalists, 2 in the upper half and 2 in the lower. In the upper half Alanis HAMILTON of USA, who eliminated the top seed in the first round, has stealthily proceeded in the draw, beating back the game Israeli Liam OVED who has played better than her WTN of 17.58. HAMILTON is unseeded but has the third best WTN rating in the draw at 12.12. No. 6 seed Valeria RAY of USA ranked 57 eliminated the Korean Gaeul JANG and now will face HAMILTON. Third seed Iva JOVIC  of USA who shares the best WTN rating of the field (11.35) easily dispatched the Dutch player Annelin BAKKER 6-0, 6-0. Tyra GRANT of USA rounded out the top half by eliminating USA Qualifier Capucine JAUFFRET by the same score.

In the bottom half a tough and steady Israeli Mika BUCHNIK outlasted the 8^th seed British player Isabelle LACY in 3 sets 2-6, 6-3, 6-0. Both players hit impessive precision shots into the corners but in the end the Israeli girl outlasted the Englishwoman.  Unseeded Gloriana NAHUM of Benin eliminated the last Costa Rican Nicole ALFARO 6-2, 6-4 but it was not easy as both girls slammed shot after shot in long rallies and the African needed hand therapy after the match. Austrian Tamara KOSTIC seeded 5 outlasted a very tough Piper CHARNEY of USA 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. Both girls played well in a very good match. The last quarterfinalist is no. 2 seed Kaitlin QUEVEDO of USA who easily dispatched Czech Vendula VALDMANNOVA who was the last girl into the Main Draw, by 6-1, 6-0. With a WTN of 11.34 (essentially tied with JOVIC) QUEVEDO is a tough opponent for any player in the draw.

On to the quarterfinals.

On Tuesday Day 2 of the Copa del Café, the last first round singles matches, and all first round doubles matches were completed. Two  local players are still in the fight, Nicole ALFARO who will face Gloriana NAHUM of Benin ranked 126 in a night match, and Adrian QUIROS MONTERREY in doubles playing with Cesar CRUZ of El Salvador squaring off against the duo of Norwegian Nicolai BUDKOV KJAER and Englishman Henry SEARLE, also in night play. Today`s program includes 16 second round singles matches, and 8 second round doubles.

In the boys draw the numbers 1 and 2 seeds have been ousted. FILIN of USA eliminated Peruvian Josue GUZMAN  as mentioned previously, but Qualifier Maxwell EXSTED of USA ranked 173 bumped second seed Phoenix WEIR of GBR as well, by a score of 7-6, 6-2. Chilean Benjamin TORREALBA ranked 111 also upset 8^th seed Quang DUONG of USA who was ranked 84, even though DUONG`s WTN index of 11.71 was far superior to TORREALBA`s 14.84. The rest of the seeds have made it to the second round. The best WTN rated players remaining are Henry SEARLE of GBR seeded 7 at 10.34, Roy HOROVITZ of USA seeded 5 with 10.13, and American Alexander RAZEGHI seeded 4 at 8.63.    

Two significant upsets in the girls draw were posted by Capucine JAUFFRET of USA and Gloriana NAHUM of Benin. Qualifier JAUFFRET ranked 622 defeated 7^th seed and 63 ranked Hephzibah OLUWADARE of GBR in 3 sets, but WTN rankings of 14.22 for the American vs. 15.06 for the Englishwoman perhaps suggest it was not such an upset. NAHUM, who is our first player from the African nation of Benin and ranked 126,  against the odds dispatched 4^th seed Mia SLAMA ranked 41 by a comfortable 6-1, 6-4, even though SLAMA had a better WTN rating (14.87) than the African (16.88), upset indeed. The players remaining with the best WTN rating are no. 2 seed Kaitlin QUEVEDO of USA at 11.34 and Iva JOVIC seeded 3, also of USA, at the almost identical 11.35.

There were 24 Monday singles matches at the 58^th Copa del Café between the boys and girls draws. Two major surprises were the losses by both Peruvian no. 1 seeds. Josue GUZMAN ranked 58 faced off against Nikita FILIN of USA, ranked 179. But FILIN with a WTN index of 12.50 surpassed the Peruvian who registered 14.76. The same situation played out with the girls. Lucciana PEREZ ALARCON ranked 20 and with WTN rating of 13.57 lined up against Alanis HAMILTON of USA ranked 147 but with a more solid WTN of 12.12. This does not always happen but lightning seems to have struck twice yesterday in identical situations.

In the boys draw, 4 other seeds made it to the second round, with 2 seeds yet to play. This data includes Henry SEARLE of GBR topping Darwin BLANCH 6-3, 7-6 in a top matchup. The play of Alexander RAZEGHI of USA ranked 77 was particularly impressive, dominating Denis PETACK of CZE ranked 91 by a score of 6-1, 6-1. At 8.63 RAZEGHI has the best WTN in the field and the quality of his groundstrokes is impeccable. This is a player to watch.

In the girls draw, Alanis HAMILTON played well and fought off 3 set points in the second set to defeat the no. 1 player by a margin of 6-1, 7-6 (6). Alanis has a steady game with variety in her game tactics, going to net with some frequency. As in the boys draw, 4 seeds progressed to the second round with only 1 going down. This was Mia Slama of USA seeded 4 and ranked 41 being eliminated by Gloriana NAHUM of Benin, ranked 126 and with an inferior WTN rating, by a 6-1, 6-4 score.

The 8 remaining first round singles matches will finish today, followed by the first round of the 2 doubles draws.