18 & Under
Two players from the same nation will square off for both 18 & Under titles in Klosters on Sunday, with France and Spain guaranteed one singles gold each.
Matthias Renfer has an easy task today as far as the selection of national anthems is concerned. The man from Swiss Tennis, responsible for all technical aspects of the tournament together with referee Kurt Gogg will only have to prepare the ‘Marseillaise’ and the ‘Marcha Real’ for the two winners. It is only the second time in eighteen editions in Klosters that in both finals the players will be from the same nation. In 2002 all four finalists were fielded by the Czech Republic.
The boys’ title will be fought out between Quentin Halys and Corentin Denolly. Last year’s finalist Halys, the #2 seed, continued his consistent week by disposing comfortably of Russia’s Roman Safiullin, seeded #4. Denolly had to go the distance for the third consecutive time before prevailing in a match of unseeded players against Daniel Windahl (SWE). It will be the first time that Halys and Denolly, who will be playing his 27th match of the month, meet.
Simultaneously, Paula Badosa Gibert will play her doubles partner Sara Sorribes Tormo for the continental crown. The two Spaniards already have a silver medal to their name, as they lost the final in the match tiebreak versus Emily Arbuthnott/Freya Christie from Great Britain. “Paula and I are best friends and a match between the two us is for us the best possible final”, Sorribes Tormo said.
France has already one title guaranteed. Top seeded Quentin Halys/John Sébastien Tatlot, who had been on the brink of defeat in the quarterfinals versus the Germans Fabian Fallert/Tim Sandkaulen, confirmed their ranking claiming the title with an inspired performance versus the Dutch pair of Tallon Griekspoor/Tim Van Rijthoven.
For the third time in six days outside play wasn’t possible due to rain. All semifinals had to be played indoor in Davos. Organizers hope for better luck on Sunday and would definitely deserve it.
16 & Under
The boys’ 16 & Under final in Moscow will be a battle between the last two winners of the 14 & Under Championships. 2012 winner Mikael Ymer edged past second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5 7-5, while his successor Corentin Moutet ended the hopes of top seed and reigning Junior Masters champion Mate Valkusz (HUN) for the loss of just four games.
Fanny Stollar later ensured a spot for Hungary in the singles final when she ended the run of unseeded Petia Arshinkova (BUL) 7-5 6-4. Stollar next faces fifth-seeded home hope Anna Blinkova, who fought back from the brink of defeat to outlast Slovenia’s Hana Mraz 4-6 7-6(6) 6-2.
There was further joy for Stollar in the doubles final, as she teamed with Dalma Galfi to beat Russians Anna Kalinskaya & Aleksandra Pospelova 6-4 6-3 to claim the first gold medal of the2014 Championships in Moscow. The win presents Stollar’s with a second medal at the event, having won silver in the doubles last year alongside Anna Bondar.
The boys’ doubles went – for the first time ever in this category – to an Estonian team. Unseeded pair Kenneth Raisma & Mattias Siimar (pictured) scored the latest in a succession of upsets to beat Alessandro Ricci & Patrik Rikl (CZE) 6-4 6-3 for a memorable win.
14 & Under
Both 14 & Under girls’ semifinals in Pilsen (CZE) pitched a Russian against a Ukrainian player, with the Russians coming out on top in each instance to set up the first-ever all-Russian 14 & Under final. Their paths contrasted heavily though; top seed Olesya Pervushina struggled against #12 Kataryna Zavatska, eventually triumphing 6-2 2-6 6-1. Anastasia Potapova wasted no time in beating second seed Dayana Yastremska though, racing to a 6-3 6-0 win to set up a final against her Winter Cups team-mate.
Germany’s boys fell just short of setting up another one-nation final in their event. Second seed Rudolf Molleker did his part, accounting for Russia’s Alen Avidzba 6-3 6-4, but third-seeded Czech Tomas Jirousek was too strong for #6 Nicola Kuhn, conceding just three games to the Spanish-based German in their semifinal.
Three of the four boys semifinalists returned to the court for the doubles final, which saw Ezven Holis join Jirousek for a 3-6 6-2 [10-7] victory over Molleker & Kuhn that gives Czech boys a first 14 & under doubles title since 1998 (Czech girls have won the title six times since then).