TennisOn Thursday, Gil-Arno Bailly faced the first hurdle in the Dexters Cup, the five-star championship at Alken. Starting next week, 16-year-old Bailly will embark on the big adventure in Australia with first Traralgon Grade 1 and then the Junior Australia Open. “My preparations were perfect, and I can’t wait to leave,” Billy said.
Jill Arno Bailly still has two years left in the junior class and is already 46th in the world rankings. Without bad luck, he could thus prepare for eight consecutive Grand Slam titles. “That’s really the intention,” Bailey laughs. “This year, in addition to the Grand Slams, I especially want to play the ITF’s biggest junior tournaments with the goal of getting a high ranking in the world rankings at the beginning of 2023. Next year I can combine Junior Grand Slams and $15,000. Still from the former Too early to get into that professional circle. There is still a lot to learn.”
Bayley has spent some solid weeks training in preparation for his three weeks in Australia. “The run up to my first major tournament is perfect, and I’m really looking forward to it,” says Bailey, who is traveling to Australia with coach Dries Bearden of Wilson Academy. “Only Aura can now throw a spanner into the works. With each test, it is always scary to wait. These are stressful moments.”
First Odrimont, now Alken
Bayley proved himself to be an excellent tennis player last week by winning the All-Star Championships in Audremont. Clement defeated Jane Strong in the final 7-5, 2-6, 7-5. “A really nice victory,” Bayley confirms. “The match could have gone either way. I have also been trying to play tennis more aggressively and get on the court more for some time now. I am making progress, but there is still a long way to go.”
And in the fast Alken Indoor Courts, Bailey eliminated Boris Kamdem 6-4, 6-4 on Thursday. He will face Alexander Kokorev in the quarter-finals on Friday.
Top seed Benjamin Dee had some trouble with East Fleming Jens de Bucher in his opening match at Alken: 7-6, 6-7, 6-2. For D’Hoe, he continues in the quarter-finals against Loic Juszczak. The other quarter-finals: Olivier Rogas – Nathan de Holst and Loic Close – Robin Fanhauy.
Not just for Castelen
With the women, Emily Castellin almost eliminated top seed Meryl Hoedt. TC Diest player lost 8-6 in the third set tiebreak: 7-6, 3-6, 7-6. Russia’s Paulina Pakhmutkina, head of the second series, was eliminated from the championship. She is seeded 6-0, 6-2 by Emma Vanderheiden, who has to leave for the United States again and leave the place in the semi-finals to Teliwith de Girolamy. De Girulami will face the winner of the match between Sophie Owen and Aksana Marin in the semi-finals on Saturday. Owen survived a third set tiebreaker against Mart Lambrecht in the eighth final. The other two sides in the quarter-finals: Meryl Houdt, Lea Ribordoye and Eleni Cordolemy-Clarty Leibniz.
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