The 18 and under European Championships in Klosters have seen a perfect start. On a splendid first day, the host nation won 75 percent of their matches.
After a difficult event last year that could not have been worse as far as meteorology was concerned, Monday saw the Swiss mountains in all their splendor. And under blue skies, the Swiss team rose to the occasion. The biggest hope, number 12 seed Jil Teichmann prevailed over Dutch Nina Kruijer 6-3, 6-4 and showed plenty of margins to improve. The former number 3 of the junior ranking, who has started the transition to the WTA tour, aims at a grand finale. “It is utmost likely that this is my last junior tournament ever and of course I'd like to finish on a high note. But competition is very tough here and I ll have to go round by round.”
The other Swiss wins came from players who beat higher ranked opponents. Susan Bandecchi defeated French Emmanuelle Salas in a seasaw match 7-6, 0-6, 6-2 and Mirko Martinez came easily atop Michal Dembek of Poland. His next opponent is likely to be much tougher, however, the number 4 seed Alvaro Lopez San Martin from Spain. The only Swiss who lost on opening day was national indoor champion Jessica Crivelletto, who was beaten by Slovenian Nina Potocnik.
66 games were on the order of play, but most top-seeds will enter the action on Tuesday. The biggest casualty was Vera Lapko from Belarus (no 9), who bowed out to Spaniard Cristina Bucsa.
From Marco Keller in Klosters
Draws and Results
Boys Singles | Boys Doubles | Girls Singles | Girls Doubles | Order of Play | Facebook | Live Scores | Photos