Oscar Conquers Qualifying
Jerry Simmons Evert American ITF Junior Circuit

Oscar Podlewski from London, Great Britain, is the MCTA’s newest recruit and is settling well into touring life with the team.  Currently the eighteen year old is on a four match winning streak having won through three qualifying rounds in Miami at the Jerry Simmons Evert American ITF Junior tournament as well as storming through the first round of the main draw.

Oscar’s first round qualifying match saw him face Jonathon Wolff from the USA.  Breaking Wolff in the opening game the British player never looked back winning the match with a comfortable 6-3 6-2 score line.  Oscar’s second match against fifth seed Andrew Landwerlen, also from the USA, was a closer contest.  With both players evenly matched the score was tied at 5-5 in the first set.  However, Oscar chose this time to force the first break in the match and went on to hold his serve to take the set 7-5.  In the second set Oscar managed to claim only the second break of the match at 4-4 and again he held to win 6-4.

The toughest match proved to be the third and final round of qualifying against Marius Copil from Romania.  The first set was an intense competitive affair with both players not wanting to forgo a first round birth in the main draw.  Reaching a tiebreak it was Oscar who managed to remain focused claiming the tiebreak 7-4.  Yet the roles were reversed in the second set which again went to a tiebreak, this time Copil taking the honours 7-2.  Oscar regained his composure for the beginning of the third set and took command leading 2-0.  However, smart play from his opponent and a slight lack of concentration on Oscar’s part saw him stumble 3-2 down.  With things looking ominous at 3-4 0-40 on his serve Oscar managed to keep his nerves and claw his way back into the game holding his serve and keeping the score level at 4 – 4.  It was enough to unsettle Copil and Oscar won the next two games with relative ease to win the match 7-6 6-7 6-4.

Through to the first round of the main draw and with three matches already secured Oscar’s confidence was at a peak.  Comfortable with his surroundings his first round opponent Jordon Cox from the USA had little chance to play himself into the match with Oscar’s aggressive game style seeing him sweep through the first set 6-1.  Increasing the intensity in the second set Oscar didn’t lose a game, winning 6-1 6-0.  Oscar said, “I played incredibly aggressively and showed my opponent no signs of letting up.  I’m now through to the second round and am pleased with my solid performance so far.”