Luana Paiva’s (photo) next opponent will be a Jamaican.
Photo: @bjfilms.ofc
Salvador, Bahia) – Luana Paiva from Bahia qualified, this Wednesday, for the quarter-finals of the 18 years old category of the 38th edition of the Bahia Juniors Cup, in Salvador, an event held at the Clube Bahiano de Tênis, in the Graça neighborhood.
The local tennis player beat compatriot Ana Cruz 6/0 7/5 and will face Jamaican Alyssa James. “I started the game well. In the first set, I managed to impose myself and not give any chances. The second set was very tough, she opened 4/1 and then 5/4, but I managed to turn around and close at 7/5”, she explained. “Now, I’m playing against a Jamaican. I know it’s going to be tough, but I’m very confident and I’m going to do my best to win.”
In the same category, another Bahian, 16-year-old Victor Rocha, was beaten in the round of 16 by second seed Henrique de Brito, by 6/2 and 6/4.
Luis Miguel, from Goiás, just 14 years old, scored another victory and is in the quarterfinals of the category that counts points for the ITF ranking. He beat Caio Dourado by double 6/4 and will face Thiago Guglieri, fifth favorite. On Tuesday, Miguel had beaten the top 100 and main favorite, Nicolas Oliveira from Rio. Miguel was a semifinalist at Wimbledon this year in the 14-year-old category and won titles on the European circuit at his age.
Thursday will feature quarterfinal games, with the definition of the semifinalists. In total there are 350 athletes from seven countries (Brazil, Holland, Colombia, Argentina, Paraguay, Peru and Jamaica) covering all categories from the world cup up to 18 years old, including the South American Cosat (16 and 14 years old) and the Brazilian Championship ( 12 years). The number is a historic record for the event
