Taking place over two weekends, across nine different locations in Europe and with a total of 65 national teams in participation, the 14 & Under European Summer Cups reached their climax last weekend with Italy and Ukraine winning the boys’ and girls’ categories respectively. Coincidentally, both teams were able to back up their wins from this year’s Winter Cups by HEAD and take home their second Summer Cup titles in this category. The Italian boys won the inaugural edition of the event in 1979, and have now re-claimed the title by edging out France 2-1 in the final. The Ukraine saw off the Czech Republic by the same scoreline in the girls’ event for their second win in three years. The boys’ final took place in Spain, while Italy hosted the girls.
Boys’ 14 & Under Copa del Sol, Murcia Spain
The Last Eight (Photos)
Czech Republic vs Slovakia
Italy vs Denmark
Romania vs France
Great Britain vs Russia
With the Czech Republic, France and Russia all coming through undefeated into the final rounds, they had set themselves up as the teams to beat. In the quarter final round, France and the Czech Republic maintained their unbeaten run with a 3-0 win over Romania and Slovakia respectively.
For the Czechs, wins went to Vitek Horak and Dalibor Svricina in the singles while in the doubles, Horak teamed with Joraslav Smedek to seal the 3-0 victory over Slovakia. France’s Lilian Marmoussez won his singles and doubles (with Arthur Cazaux) and Harold Mayot completed the 3-0 whitewash of Romania.In another quarter final, Lorenzo Musetti helped Italy over the line against Denmark winning both his matches in their 2-1 victory.
Meanwhile, in the fourth quarter final, Russia were taken out by Great Britain, who in turn lost to France in the semi-finals, although they did manage to inflict France’s first loss of a rubber. Italy saw off the Czech Republic 2-1 in their semi-final, with Musetti again instrumental winning both rubbers, to set up a Franco-Italian finals battle.
The Final - France vs Italy
Lorenzo Musetti was the rock of the team, having gone unbeaten throughout all matches in the entire event. Unstoppable, he yet again demonstrated his consistency, defeating Arthur Cazaux 7-5 2-6 6-2 in the singles. Lorenzo Rottoli then put the tie out of reach of the French, winning his singles match with Lilian Marmousez 6-1 6-2. Musetti then teamed with Lorenzo Rottoli for the doubles, where the French were able to claim a consolation point, winning 6-1 6-4 to end the final 1/2.
Girls’ 14 & Under Europa Cup, Loano, Italy
The Last Eight (Photos)
Czech Republic vs Slovenia
Slovakia vs Denmark
Latvia vs Russia
Estonia vs Ukraine
The Czech Republic and Russian girls’ teams emulated their male counterparts by making their way out of the zone groups undefeated in all their rubbers, a feat which was also achieved by Ukraine and Slovakia.
The Czech team, made up of Denisa Hindova, Kristyna Lacivkova and Denisa Hunkova, beat Slovenia and then Slovakia to advance to the final with the cleanest sheet of any team in the event, with two more 3-0 wins.
Ukraine won its quarter final against Estonia 3-0 and then in the semi-final, defeated Russia 2-1 with the help of 7th ranked Marta Kostyuk, who won both her singles and doubles matches to steer her team to the final.
The Final - Czech Republic vs Ukraine
Just like Musetti in the boys, Marta Kostyuk was a stable force for the Ukrainian girls. Her teammate Daria Snigur lost her singles rubber to Denisa Hindova 7-5 6-0. Kostyuk displayed some more solid form whilst maintaining her own unbeaten run in the whole event by taking out her singles match 6-2 7-6(4) against Kristyna Lacivkova. She then paired with Dasha Lopatetskaya to topple the two Czech girls in the doubles rubber 6-3 6-4 to complete a convincing win for the Ukraine after a very impressive event, having lost only two rubbers over both weekends.
Click here for full results and photo galleries from the competition.