Results: Sao Paulo and Noumea Challengers

Match reports up later, for now the results:

Sao Paulo

[Q] Rafael Camilo defeated Adrian Menendez-Maceiras 5-7 7-6 7-5 (saved a match point in the TB!)

[1] Ricardo Mello leads [7] Federico Delbonis 6-4 5-7 *5-4 (play suspended: rain!)

 

Noumea

  

Semifinals

 

[3] Gilles Muller defeated Augustin Gensse (FRA) 6-3 6-4
Vincent Millot defeated [2] Jesse Huta Galung, walkover

 

Final

 

Vincent Millot defeated [3] Gilles Muller 7-6 2-6 6-4

 

Update on lack of further updates: Unfortunately, I’m not going to have the time to do a proper write-up up of these matches; I’m packing up to head down to Florida and cover the first four Futures events there.  In the meantime, caioswim has done an amazing job of covering the Sao Paulo tournament all week with his Youtube videos. Here’s a nice little chunk of the Camilo v Menendez match. It’s a good illustration of the weaponry Camilo has at his disposal, as well as the work he still needs to do to improve his consistency and fitness (note: he’s in the far court):

 

 

I have to say, I’m really starting to love this kid and his game.  And his breakout success in this event has not only been the story of the tournament (he’s now won 3 matches having saved match points), but further underlines how insane the tournament organizers were to put his epic match against Horacio Zeballos on an outside court, when the main court was available.  I’m still trying to get over that one.  Even his doubles final (he and Santiago Gonzalez are the top seeds and beat third seeds James Cerretani/Adil Shamasdin 6-4 6-7(6) 10-5 in the semis) won’t be on Court Central.  The tournament director must hate him. (kidding)

 

Anyway, here are the final points of the Camilo-Menendez contest:

 

 

It’s a shame we don’t have someone like caioswim in Noumea, but here are some pretty sweet pictures of Millot’s championship victory over Muller.  It was the 24-year-old Frenchman’s first Challenger Tour title (and his first final since June of 2009).  Second seeds  Freddie Nielsen and Dominik Meffert took the dubs trophy 7-6(4) 5-7 10-5 over top-seeded Flavio Cipolla and Simone Vagnozzi).

 

Regarding Jesse Huta Galung’s withdrawal: apparently playing the semifinals would be too much of a pain in the butt.  Didn’t want to take any chances with Australian Open qualifying so soon on the horizon.  Speaking of which, we’ll be providing full coverage of the qualifying tournament down under, with a very special guest author/editor on board.  Who could it be? Hint: it’s someone who writes much better then I do.  (Yes, I know: that doesn’t narrow down the field too much, haha.)

Challenger Noumea Quarter-Final Recap and Semi-Finals Preview

[Yet another in a long and hallowed line of award-winning dispatches from our Noumea Bureau Chief, Mr. Jonathan Artman]

 

Local boy Augustin Gensse continued his great run with victory over Slovakian Pavol Cervenak in straight sets, 7-6(6), 6-4.

Gilles Muller continued his 3-set specialty wins with another over Flavio Cipolla, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 in a real thriller. Cipolla always does well here in Noumea but had his 2011 campaign ended by the big lefty from Luxembourg.

Vincent Millot pulled out another upset from the hat, defeating compatriot Josselin Ouanna in 3 sets, 3-6, 7-6(0), 7-6(2). A really hard-fought victory to progress to the semis.

2^nd seed Jesse Huta Galung marched on towards the Final with a victory over Gregoire Burquier 6-4, 7-5.

Semi-Final Preview

  

The first Semi sees the current favourite for Noumea glory this year, Jesse Huta Galung, face off against surprise package Vincent Millot. Millot has seen off two compatriots as well as Amir Weintraub, who was on an 8-match winning streak before Millot ground it down to an abrupt halt.  The young, exciting Dutchman ought to finally put pay to the Frenchman’s hopes due to his consistent play from the baseline. Millot is capable of beating the likes of Galung on his day, however, so it promises to be an intriguing clash. Expect another 3 setter involving the Frenchman but Galung to finally prevail.

 

Noumea – Updated Thursday QF Results

Once again lovingly cut-and-pasted by my overtaxed typing fingers. You’re welcome!

[2] J Huta Galung (NED) b G Burquier (FRA) 64 75
[3] G Muller (LUX) b F Cipolla (ITA) 63 16 63
V Millot (FRA) b [6] J Ouanna (FRA) 36 76(0) 76(2)
A Gensse (FRA) b P Cervenak (SVK) 76(6) 64

Challenger Noumea Thursday Preview – Quarter-Finals

[Another annoying note from the editor: below please revel in the insanely popular previewing stylings of Noumea Bureau Chief and New Caledonia Tennis Aficionado Mr. Jonathan Artman. Upon completion of this year's event, his daily Noumea previews will be collected into a compendium and released as a lovely coffee table book]

 

Thursday sees the quarter-finals take place in New Caledonia, and we begin to progress to the nitty-gritty stages of the Championships.

Augustin Gensse and Pavol Cervenak (the latter you may know from his doubles exploits) will face-off in the low-key quarter-final (hey, they can’t all be big games).

2^nd seed Jesse Huta Galung will be the opposition for local boy Gregoire Burquier, who is a surprise name in the draw. Currently ranked at 233, his highest in his career thus far, the 26-year-old was not expected to do much this week in all honesty but has strung up a good few wins already. Galung will represent by far his toughest test yet, however. The young Dutchman ought to end the Frenchman’s glory hopes today, in straight sets. Infact, with Igor Sijsling departing early in somewhat shocking fashion, Jesse is arguably the favourite to win the 2011 Noumea title.

The all-French clash sees Josselin Ouanna pit his skills against Vincent Millot who has really earned his quarter-final spot with wins over Marc Gicquel and a confident Amir Weintraub. Ouanna has not had things easy playing the likes of Rik de Voest, who can be a challenging opponent on his day.  But the Frenchman, not renowned for having a great deal of hair at the best of times [editor's note: LOL], has performed admirably thus far in 2011. I expect Ouanna to end his compatriot’s impressive run but Millot oughtn’t bow down easily.

Arguably the most interesting clash on Thursday will see Gilles Muller play the Italian and former Champion here in Noumea, Flavio Cipolla. Muller was expected to get at least this far but he has not progressed in the fashion that was likely of him – he dropped a set to both Danai Udomchoke and little known Clement Reix from France. Conversely, Flavio has seen off his opponents in straight sets thus far and destroyed his experienced opponent, David Guez; it must be said, however, that the Frenchman is known for his off-days now and then. Or perhaps, a bit more often than “now and then”.

I am going for an Italian victory as he seems to be blessed in this place. Muller has not convinced this week and he will have to improve markedly to defeat Cipolla. If he plays in the same manner as he has done already, Cipolla will beat him quicker than he can polish off a home-made stone-baked ciabatta.

Stone-Baked Ciabatta

Noumea Wednesday Recap

[another dispatch from Jon Artman, Noumea Bureau Chief]

On a busy Wednesday, giant Gilles Muller saw off Clement Reix as expected; however the match was again extended to 3 sets, which was a big surprise. The Frenchman took the first set 6-4 before the Luxembourger rallied to win 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Flavio Cipolla continued his reign over Noumea tennis with a 6-1, 6-0 demolition of Frenchman David Guez. I expected Cipolla to be victorious, although not in such comfortable fashion. An excellent show by the Italian.

Josselin Ouanna defeated Rik de Voest as predicted in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4. The big South African improved his play in the 2^nd set but was unable to force a decider.

File Photo of Josselin Ouanna (right) with compatriot and Brisbaniac Adrian Mannarino

Exciting young talent Amir Weintraub saw his brilliant run of 8 wins halted by improving Frenchman Vincent Millot. Despite dropping the first set Millot came back to trump Weintraub with a 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 victory.

Jesse Huta Galung of the Netherlands continued his easy passage in to the latter stages of the tournament with a straight sets victory over Ivo Klec 6-4, 6-4.

[Editor's note: although Jesse did tweet: "Weather extremely cramped, seldom felt so bad after a game. Tomorrow quarterfinals." Tweetdeck translation]