With 17 tournaments in play during the first week back to Tennis Europe Junior Tour, it was a triumphant return to the courts after a six-month break. In these difficult times, the Summer Cups, European Junior Championships and now the Junior Masters have unfortunately had to be cancelled. The good news, however, is that we are back in action with plenty of tournaments to fill up the calendar in the coming months.
New Regulations
Under the new guidelines there will be no Category 1 or Super Category tournaments until at least the end of the year. 12 and Under and multiple aged events are not due to recommence until the start of the 2021 season at the earliest.
Health & Safety
Other important points to note are that all singles draws have been limited to 32 players and that all tournaments must adhere to new health and safety protocols. These include daily temperature screening for all individuals on-site, mandatory face coverings while off-court, social distancing measures, online sign-in and many more, all of which can be found here.
Last Week’s Highlights
One of the notable tournaments being played this week was the 14&U Category 2 ATA JUNIOR TROPHY KLOSTERS. Played in the same venue as the 18&U European Junior Championships, the boys’ singles titles went to Sam Pidoux (SUI), a doubles champ earlier in the year at TIM Essonne. In the girls’ event, Franziska Kremerskothen (GER) claimed her maiden Tennis Europe Junior Tour title. (Gallery)
Having won singles and doubles at the Development Championships back in March, Bosnia's Marko Maksimovic was one of the most in-form players just before the Tour was suspended. He picked up right where left off with a victory at the 14&U VIII MEMORIJAL JOVANA KUKARSA in Serbia. Iva Jankovic (SRB) won the girls’ title.
Meanwhile across the border in Croatia, top seed Marko Milosavljevic (AUT) and unseeded Ria Dernikovic (CRO) were the boys’ and girls’ champions at the 16&U Category 2 MARIN SUJICA JUNIOR OPEN played in Cakovec. This is the first tournament win for both players in this age category, although interestingly Milosavljevic won the 16&U Category 3 Nis Open singles title in 2019.
One of the strongest draws of the week, was at the 14&U Category 3 PIROGOVSKIY CUP in Russia. The four girls semi-finalists are ranked in the top 25, and it was fitting that the final was played between the top two seeds, with the win eventually going to eighth-ranked Alina Korneeva (RUS) over third-ranked Daria Shadchneva (RUS). Korneeva picks up her first singles win in this age group and added a third doubles trophy to her shelf, after having won the doubles crown earlier this year in the Super Category events in Khimki and Stockholm. Many top-ranking boys were in action as well, with the title eventually going to Artur Aiukhanov (RUS) over his compatriot Daniil Stepanov.
For complete results from all of these events and more, click here or click here for the week's ptoho galleries.
Moving Forward
As we head into week 37 of the Tour, and the second week back to international junior tennis, there are 16 tournaments on offer across Europe. Follow us online and on social media for up-to-date news and pictures. In this new era of tennis where tournament organizers and staff are facing greater challenges, we must applaud their efforts and also praise staff, players and teams for following all the protocols. This week's events include:
Category 2:
14&U Torneo Pescara (ITA)
14&U Allan Weisman Memorial, Jaffa (ISR)
14&U ÖTV Oberpullendorf Europe Junior Tour (AUT)
16&U Jelgava Open (LAT)
Category 3:
14&U AMJOY Cup, Bergeijk (NED)
14&U Airok Viljandi Open (EST)
14&U Balashikha Open (RUS)
14&U Northern Vision Open, Oslo (NOR)
14&U Tempo Company Open, Beograd (SRB)
14&U Neride Cup, Rakovnik (CZE)
14&U Bulgaria Cup, Svilengrad (BUL)
16&U Sistelmar Junior Cup, Porto (POR)
16&U Luka Koper Junior Open (SLO)
16&U Galychyna Cup, Lviv (UKR)
16&U San Marino Junior Cup (SMR)
16&U Krakow Cup (POL)