DOUBLE SHIFT FOR THE UNDER-21

In theory, the Under-21 tournament only starts this Friday, but in reality, the dispute has already begun. After all, every 48 players have been playing since day one in the competition in Sao Paulo, playing the qualifying matches of the main event. There was even some that managed to qualify to the next round, like the Brazilian player Cazuo Matsumoto, 20 years old.

 

"I think I was lucky because I ended up facing less difficult opponents then my friends. Now I'm hoping to give the Seniors a surprise", Cazuo confessed. He has also qualified to the main doubles draw. Despite the tight schedule, he is afraid to be beaten by exhaustion. "There isn't another way, I have to play. That the reason I practice five days a week, four hours a day".

 

Because Cazuo is seed of his group in the Under-21 tournament, he still doesn't know who he is going to play against. However, he hopes that he reaches at least the semifinals. On the other hand, he already knows his opponent for the main draw: the India Achanta Kamal.

 

"He is a good player, who has been doing well in the tournament. My strategy is not to give him a chance to get to know my game".

 

Who is also competing in the main event of the Brazilian Open is the Portuguese Tiago Apolonia, who like Cazuo, has won his three qualifying matches. Favorite to win the Unde-21 competition, he said he was surprised with his performance during the last couple of days.

 

"I did what I had to do, from now everything is good", the Portuguese declared. Yet when asked about how he feels about the Unde-21 tournament, he gave a completely different speech: "I hope I win".