JESSICA YAMADA CROWNED GIRLS' SINGLES CHAMPION IN ECUADOR
Por CBTM
Brazil’s Jessica Yamada, the number two seed, won the Girls’ Singles title at the South American Junior Championships in Cuenca, Ecuador on Sunday 17th June 2007.
At the quarter-final stage she beat Venezuela’s Ruaida Ezzeddine 11-4, 11-6, 11-8 before overcoming Colombia’s Luisa Zuluaga in the semis 16-14, 7-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-5 and colleague Gabriela Kock in the final 11-6, 11-9, 11-13, 11-5, 11-8.
Meanwhile in the latter rounds Gabriella Kock beat Chile’s Paula Avalos, the player who had knocked out top seed Paula Medina of Colombia in round two, before overcoming Argentina’s Ana Codina in the semis.
Gabriella Kock beat Paula Avalos 11-1, 9-11, 15-13, 13-11 whilst against Anna Codina she succeeded 9-11, 11-3, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6.
Relax
“I think playing an opponent from the same country in a final helps you relax a little”, said Jessica Yamada. “I needed to make sure that throughout the match I was really focused because my opponent was stronger physically than me she could attack strongly.”
The more powerful player was Gabriella Kock, a major difference in the final was that Jessica Yamada had been there before; she had the degree of extra experience. In 2007 Jessica Yamada has played in two Girls’ Singles finals on the ITTF World Junior Circuit. In March she won at the Venezuelan Junior Open whilst the following week she was the runner up in Chile.
Tactically
“I think tactically the main reason why I won was that my blocking was good today and I was able to control the ball when Gabriella attacked”, continued Jessica Yamada. “Also, when I played with a lot of topspin I felt I did well.”
Like Jessica Yamada, Gabriella Kock is seventeen years old and felt somewhat at ease in the final, the pressure was not the same as if playing an adversary from another country.
First Final
“I wasn’t nervous because I know Jessica, we’ve played together for a long time”, said Gabriella Kock. “It’s the first time we’ve played each other in a final, I think Jessica was maybe a little nervous at the beginning of the match but she seemed to overcome that and maintain her focus.”
Gabriella Kock often tried to take the initiative bit in so doing made mistakes. “What Jessica did well was to block my attacks”, added Gabriella Kock. “I won the third game, that was the hardest of the match but then in the next two Jessica played well.”
Award
Gold for Jessica Yamada and there was a second title; she received the award for sportsmanship.
Ian Marshall - ITTF
