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