Russia and Czech Republic are the new 14 & Under European Summer Cups champions following an exciting week of play that saw 64 national teams in action at 9 venues across the continent.
The boys’ Copa del Sol final in Murcia was a repeat of the final match of the qualifying group in Sassari, with top seeds Russia facing Italy, and all four players were back at the final rounds to attempt to claim the title. Tennis Europe Junior Tour #96 Nicolas Merzetti had scored some impressive upsets throughout the weekend, including #5 Ergi Kirkin in the first round and #28 Finn Bass (GBR) in the semifinals. Russian #2 Philipp Klimov was too strong though, posting a 6-3 6-3 victory to give the top seeds the lead.
Russian #1 Artem Dubrivyy then had to face Les Petits As champion Samuele Ramazzotti in a match featuring two of the Tour’s top four players. Ramazzotti fought back from the loss of the first set to force a decider but was unable to prolong the Russian victory much longer, with Dubrivnyy sealing the title after a high-quality two-hour battle. The Russians then completed a 3-0 win, staging an impressive fightback to win the doubles 3-6 7-6 (10-7).
Both Dubrivnyy and Klimov also served on the victorious Tennis Europe Winter Cups by HEAD team in February, giving Russia a clean sweep of 14 & Under boys’ team titles this season.
At the girls’ final rounds in Loano, unseeded Czech Republic came from behind to end Spain’s hopes of a first-ever girls’ Europa Cup title.
The Spaniards had ended the run of defending champions Great Britain in the quarterfinals before surprising top seeds Russia in the semis, while the Czechs had also scored two upset wins, over seeds Italy and Romania.
Spain started the final strongly as Paula Arias Manjon recovered from the loss of the opening set to surprise Anna Slovakova, ranked 398 places above her, and secure a 1-0 lead. In the battle of the #1 players, Europe’s #3 Marketa Vondrousova then showed her authority by leveling the match with a 7-5 6-4 win over 12th-ranked Eva Guerrero Alvarez.
Spain then drafted in the fresh legs of Noelia Bouzo Zanotti who replaced Guerrero for the deciding doubles match, but the more experienced pair of Slovakova & Vondrousova strode to a straight sets win to claim the title for their country for the first time since 1999.
The 14 & Under Summer Cups have a double purpose, serving also as the European qualifying competition for the ITF World Junior Tennis tournament. The top five teams from both the boys’ and girls’ events (plus the Czech Republic as hosts) will qualify to take part in the finals of the world’s team event for Under 14s in Prostejov in August. The remaining European Summer Cups events (for players aged 16 and 18 & Under) will be played during the first week of August.
Boys Finals in Murcia (ESP)
Team Nominations | Draw | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Photos
Final Standings:
1. Russia, 2. Italy, 3. France, 4. Great Britain 5. Turkey, 6. Romania, 7. Switzerland, 8. Serbia
Girls Finals in Loano (ITA)
Team Nominations | Draw | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Photos
Final Standings:
1. Czech Republic, 2. Spain, 3. Russia, 4. Romania, 5. Italy, 6. Great Britain, 7. Belarus, 8. Germany