European Individual Championships 2004

The months of July and August are an important time for the European Junior Tour, featuring the summer's most prestigious events; the European Championships, which are played as Individual and Team (known as the Summer Cups) events in a number of locations across Europe.

Both events are played for boys and girls, and are divided into Under 14, Under 16 and Under 18 categories, with the best players in Europe making themselves available for their events.

First on the calendar during the penultimate week of July was the European Individual Championships. A multitude of top players tasted early success at this event, with former winners including the likes of Edberg, Costa, Wilander, Enqvist, Seles, Henin, Sanchez Vicario and Kournikova, and the tournament has since its inception in 1976 proved to be a reliable indicator of the most promising young European players.


14 & Under

The 14 & Under event was held for the third consecutive year in Vichy, France, where both Champions faced real battles in the later rounds. The girls event was won by Renee Reinhard of the Netherlands, recapturing the title for her nation after Michaela Krajicek's win two years ago. Reinhard cruised through her opening rounds without the loss of a set but was pushed to limit by fourth seeded Klaudia Boczova (SVK) in the semi finals, overcoming a 1-6 first set washout to win the final two sets 7-6(5) 7-5. The final was not any easier as Reinhard took on third-seeded Stephanie Voegele (SUI), who hoped to become the first Swiss player since Martina Hingis twelve years previously to win the event. Voegele started well enough, winning the first set 7-5, but was pegged back to one set apiece by the more consistent play of Reinhard, who took the second 6-2. The final set was a nailbiting affair, with Reinhard eventually triumphing seven points to five in a deciding tie break.

The boys event went a little more to form, with the top eight seeds remarkably all justifying their seedings to reach the quarter finals. The lone quarter final upset was Nassim Slilam's (FRA) win over second-seeded Alexei Grigorov of Russia, although Britain's Daniel Cox almost pulled off a shock win over another home player, fourth seeded Jerome Inzerillo, who eventually triumphed 4-6 6-2 7-5. Inzerillo and Slilam both followed that up with hard-fought semi final upsets, the former over top-seed Vladimir Ignatic (BRS), and Slilam over thid-seeded Ricardis Bernkis (LTU), both in three sets. The crowd were no doubt happy that the final would then be a showcase of the two leading French players of this age group, whilst the players were eager to become the first French boy since Richard Gasquet (1999) to win the 14 & Under title. The final was a closely contested affair, with Inzerillo winning a 22-point first set tie break. It would not have been unreasonable to expect Slilam to fold after the disappointment of losing such a close set, but he came back strongly to win the second 6-3. Sadly for him, by the final set Inzerillo was the stronger, winning the final six games to seal victory.

16 & Under

The Under 16 event was split across two venues, with the girls playing for a second consecutive year in Eeklo, Belgium, whilst the boys were in Orbetello, Italy. The girls event saw some prolific winners from the European Junior Tour amongst the seedings, but the surprise of the tournament was Carla Suarez's run to the final. Amazingly, the unseeded Spaniard upset five higher ranked players, including four of the top ten seeds on her way to the final, all without the loss of a set. However in the final she was to run into top-seed Mihaela Buzarnescu (ROM), who was in unforgiving form and ran out a 6-2 6-4 win, meaning that the Girl's 16 & Under title has gone to three different Romanians in the last three years.

Over in Italy the upsets continued as two unseeded players fought their way through to contest the final. The first place was taken by Marin Cilic (CRO) (pictured, right), who beat three of the top ten seeds en route, notably scoring a 6-0 6-2 victory over top-seeded Ernests Gulbis (LTU) in the quarter final, which he followed up with a 6-2 6-1 win over fourth-seed Pavel Chekov (RUS) in the semi final. His opponent was Grzegorz Panfil of Poland, who also battled past a plethora of higher ranked players to reach the last two. As you would expect from a match between the two suprises of the tournament, the final was a close affair. Panfil was particularly impressive in the early stages, and took the first set 6-3, the first time that Cilic had lost a set during the week. This seemed to sting Cilic into action though, and the Croat came back in style to win the next two sets, 6-1 6-2. Cilic's victory is the first win for a Croatian player in this age group at the European Individual Championships.

18 & Under

The 18 & Under event was held in the mountain resort town of Klosters in Switzerland, as has been the case since 1994. As usual the Under 18 category saw a host of exceptional players, many of whom are already making their mark on the international professional circuits. The girls event was won by third-seeded Katerina Bohmova (CZE) (pictured, top). She was in impressive form all week, winning the title without the loss of a set. Her final opponent was the local favourite, Timea Baczinsky (SUI), who having just turned 15, was attempting to emulate the feat of Martina Hingis of having won the 18 & Under event at such a young age. Sadly, it was not to be as Bohmova, a winner of two ITF Women's Circuit events so far this year, was in unforgiving mood, conceding just two games to her younger opponent. Baczinsky will have more opportunities in the future however, whilst Bohmova, who called the European Individual Championships her "greatest victory," now hopes to qualify for the US Open.

The boys championship remains in Spanish hands. Tomeu Salva won the trophy won last year by Daniel Gimeno Traver with an impressive run of seven victories. His toughest battle came in the last 16 against French hope Jeremy Chardy, seeded 14, which he scraped through in a final set tie break. It was plain sailing after that for the Spaniard, who went on to take out the fifteenth and sixth seeds for the loss of just four and five games respectively, before meeting his final opponent, Igor Sijsling (NED). Sijsling, the eighth seed, had come through the top half of the draw with a series of notable wins, including upsets of the fourth and fifth seeds, both in straight sets. For the first set of the final, Salva threatened to whitewash the Dutch player, conceding just one game. Sijsling struck back in the second, matching the Spaniard shot for shot and forcing a tie break, which Salva won seven points to four to clinch the title. Salva, who also won the Under 16 title in 2002, will no doubt be hoping to follow in the footsteps of compatriots Carlos Moya and Albert Costa, both of whom won this event at the dawn of their careers.

Full draws from all the venues can be found in their relevant section on the site, as well as doubles and consolation competitions. For Summer Cups results and tables, please click here.