Another busy week on the Tennis Europe Junior Tour saw eight tournaments staged in 7 nations, with several of the leading contenders in the Race to Monte-Carlo scoring more wins.
14 & Under | 28th PIESTANY CUP U14 2021 (Piestany, SVK)
It was a big weekend for the travelling Finnish entourage, who posted some great results away from home at the big Category 1 event in Slovakia. Qualifier Linus Lagerbohm (FIN) made a second-round comeback to oust second seed and Race to Monte-Carlo #2 Egor Pleshivtsev (RUS). This no doubt boosted his confidence as he followed up with wins over the sixth and seventh seeds, tearing through the field on his way to the final where he met another qualifier, Jacopo Vasami. The Italian beat the top seed, and Race #3, Maxim Mrva (CZE) in his own second round upset, after which he saw off another Finn, Felix Alopaeus in the semis. The final between the two qualifiers went the way of the boy from Finland, 6-2 6-2.
There were no major upsets in the girls’ draw, as top seed Mathilde Ngijol Carre (FRA) won her first event of the year. In the final, she overcame second seed Dora Miskovic (CRO) 6-4 6-3 to mark a triumphant return to the tour, having been absent since the International Playsight Cup in Germany last October, where she also captured the title. With the victory, she will rocket her way up the Race rankings and will also make her return to the 14 & Under Top Ten.
There were to be more smiles for Finland on the doubles court, as Oskari Paldanius and Alopaeus shut out the Czech pairing of Mrva and Jan Rastica 6-0 6-1 to win the boys’ title. In the girls’ doubles final, Lucia Hradecka and Renata Jamrichova ensured at least one trophy would remain on home soil, scoring an equally convincing 6-1 6-1 win over Mariia Drobysheva (UKR) and singles finalist Miskovic. | Photo Gallery
Category 2 events
16 & Under | GRAWE OPEN (Maribor, SLO)
Recent Vic champion Tomasz Berkieta (POL) was going for his second victory in a fortnight, but fell just short. His Belgian opponent, Emilien Demanet, was too strong for the top seed, posting a 6-2 6-3 win. Meanwhile current Race to Monte-Carlo leader and top seed, Rose Marie Nijkamp (NED), was also upset in the final by an unseeded player in the form of Italian Greta Greco Lucchina 7-5 6-4.
Boys’ doubles champions: Mihal Krajci (SLO) & Mika Petkovic (GER)
Girls’ doubles champions: Sara Mlenska (CZE) & Marie Slamenikova (SLO)
16 & Under | KINETIC CUP BY DUNLOP (Kyiv, UKR)
All-Ukrainian finals saw the boys’ title go to Semen Aginskiy, who picked up his second title of the year with a 6-2 6-4 win over Oleksander Guriev. Yeva Galiievska was the girls’ singles champion after her 6-0 2-6 6-2 victory over Soffia Mykhailets.
Boys’ doubles champions: Konstantin Mantach (UKR) & Tymofii Milovanov (UKR)
Girls’ doubles champions: Sofiia Mykhailets (UKR) & Alina Nesmianovych (UKR)
14 & Under | BERGANTOV MEMORIAL (Maribor, SLO)
Thijs Boogaard (NED) claimed the boys’ title. Stepping up from his Mladost Grill Open runner-up spot two weeks ago, he came from behind to deny his Swedish opponent Ludvig Hede 2-6 7-6(5) 6-3. Meanwhile, German Julia Stusek notched title number four of 2021 with a 6-3 6-3 win over Aurora Nosei (ITA).
Boys’ doubles champions: Paolo Angeli (SLO) & Matic Hribar (SLO)
Girls’ doubles champions: Leonie Rabl (AUT) & Julia Stusek (GER)
14 & Under | IX MEMORJAL JOVANA KUKARASA (Subotica, SRB)
Ognjen Milic (SRB) adds to his Category 3 win from earlier in the year with another win on home soil. He outdid Amar Huseinovikj (MKD) 6-0 6-1 and will jump from 15 when the Race rankings are updated tomorrow. Melinda Biro (HUN) came back to beat Kira Batakina (RUS) 3-6 6-3 6-3 in the girls’ singles final.
Boys’ doubles champions: Amar Huseinovikj (MKD) & Skender Katana (MNE)
Girls’ doubles champions: Hana Djedovic (SRB) & Iva Lakic (MNE)
For full results from all the week’s events, click here. 8 Tour events are taking place this week, highlighted by the Category 1 14 & Under Bulgaria Cup in Burgas.