The Tennis Europe Junior Tour made an important stop in Ukraine this week as 14 & Under and 16 & Under Category 1 events were held concurrently in Irpin, just outside of the capital Kiev. With a host of players from many countries and plenty of tennis over the week, home players made up seven of the eight doubles finalists while the singles champions came from four different nations. Here's our weekly round-up...
Category 1
Ukrainian Junior Open | Irpin (UKR) | Gallery
16&U
Having fallen at the final hurdle in two of his last three tournaments (Riga and Barcelona), Lithuania’s Vilius Gaubas finally bagged his first singles title of the season with a victory in the boys’ singles. After top-seeded compatriot Ainius Sabaliauskas fell in round 2, Gaubas proceeded to the final winning a series of hard-fought three setters. He defeated unseeded Ukrainian German Samofalov in yet another tough three-set match in the final, 7-6(4) 1-6 6-2.
In a field dominated by home players, the top seeded girl Kateryna Lazarenko advanced nicely until she was halted in straight sets by unseeded Ukrainian compatriot Mariya Dolzhenko in the semi-finals. Dolzhenko advanced to play Alisa Baranovska in the final, but was unable to put up much resistance, bowing out 6-0 6-2 to the number three seed. By winning the final, Baranovska claimed her fourth title of 2019, her second in this age group, and biggest title yet. The 14-year also picked up a second doubles title of the season for good measure.
Boys’ doubles winners: Artem PODOROZHNYI (UKR) & German SAMOFALOV (UKR)
Girls’ doubles winners: Alisa BARANOVSKA (UKR) & Elen GRAB (UKR)
14&U
David Schwarc (SVK) has been in scintillating form lately, winning back-to-back tournaments in Ukraine. In the final, he overcame a second set wobble to beat top seeded Israeli Vladimir Bazilevskiy 6-1 6-7(5) 6-1 for singles title number three in 2019. Meanwhile, in the girls’ event, Czech Amelie Smejkalova caused an upset by denying top seed Petra Marcinko a fourth title of the season by winning her second trophy, 7-6(5) 7-5.
Boys’ doubles winners: Mikalai BANKOU (BLR) & Volodymyr IAKUBENKO (UKR)
Girls’ doubles winners: Karina DUNDA (UKR) & Daria ZHURID (UKR)
Category 2
16&U | Torneo U16 | Crema (ITA)
Luka Mikrut (CRO) had a successful trip across the Adriatic Sea to Italy, winning the doubles as well as upsetting higher ranked Filip Pieczonka (POL) to take home the singles title as well. Laura Hietaranta (FIN) defeated Sara Svetac (CRO) for the girls’ singles trophy.
Boys’ doubles winners: Alen BILL (CRO) & Luka MIKRUT (CRO)
Girls’ doubles winners: Daria KHOMUTSIANSKAYA (BLR) & Chloe Isabella TSANG (AUS)
16&U | Apple Bowl | Avilés (ESP)
It was a Spanish whitewash in the singles semis and finals, as home players dominated the field. Pedro Rodenas was too strong for Alejandro Correa in the boys’ final, while Carmen Lopez outdid Olaya Bances in the girls’ decider.
Boys’ doubles winners: Cesar BARRANQUERO (ESP) & Ivan PEREZ MARTIN (ESP)
Girls’ doubles winners: Freia LAWRENCE (GBR) & Maria Dolores LOPEZ MARTINEZ (ESP)
14&U | International Tournament | Liepaja (LAT)
Tikhon Federov (BLR) won his second title of 2019 by overcoming top seed Frederyk Lechno-Wasiutynski (POL) in the boys’ final. Hanna Tsitavets (BLR) defeated Liepa Sataite (LTU) to be crowned girls’ champion.
Boys’ doubles winners: Villem AADAMSOO (EST) & Davis ROLIS (LAT)
Girls’ doubles winners: Hayu KINOSHITA (JPN) & Sara SAITO (JPN)
For full results, scores and more from all the above tournaments, as well as other events from Week 25, click here.
For the latest photo galleries, click here.