This week the 16 & Under Category 1 Open RCT Barcelona 1899 tournament in Sarajevo celebrated its 25th anniversary and was the main stop on the Tennis Europe Junior Tour. Marko Maksimovic (BIH) was a popular home champion of the boys’ event, while Anastasiia Firman of Ukraine was the girls’ champion. With the cut-off date fast approaching, the event saw many of the leading contenders in the Race to Monte-Carlo in action, looking to amass more precious points in the battle to appear at the season-ending Junior Masters.
The top seed from Poland, Jakub Jedrzejczak, currently fifth in the Race to Monte-Carlo, had an impressive start to the event, sailing through the first few rounds with ease. At the semi-final stage however, his run was halted by the number seven seed from Montenegro, Milan Ristov. Meanwhile, in the other half of the draw, third seeded Maksimovic was making great progress, keeping a clean sheet right through to the semi-final. There, he beat the Greek player Chris Spyrou, who had earlier beaten second seed and 14&U Race #2 Egor Gorin (RUS). The final was all one-way traffic, as Maksimovic gave away just two games in his 6-0 6-2 domination of Ristov. This was the Bosnian’s second title of the year, both on home soil. His Junior Tour ranking of #45 and Race ranking of #30 will both receive a big boost come Tuesday.
Firman, the number one seed, demonstrated exactly why she held that position with a dominating display throughout the entire week. The 27th-ranked Ukrainian charged through the draw and did not drop a set on the way to her third tournament victory of the year. Her semi-final opponent was Ekaterina Ivanova (RUS) who had earlier dispatched the Lithuanian Laima Vladson, fourth in the Race, in three tight sets. In the final, Firman played second seed Karolina Krajmer (SVK), the number two seed who was displaying some great form in Sarajevo. However, in a match reminiscent of the boys’ final, the decider was a one-sided affair, with Firman posting a 6-2 6-1 win. After her two previous Category 3 wins, this is the biggest title yet for the Ukrainian and will see her leap-frog Vladson in the Race to Monte-Carlo.
Firman carried her amazing form onto the doubles court, where she teamed up with Russian Mariia Masiianskaia to take home another winner’s trophy. They scored an emphatic win over the Ivanova-Krajmer combination in a 6-0 6-1 final. Georgian Luka Januashvili & Nikola Jovic (SRB) won the boys’ doubles title. They scored a 6-4 4-6 13-11 win over Maksimovic, who fell just short of emulating Firman’s double-win, and his partner Antonio Voljavec (CRO) in the final.
This event was originally launched by Real Club de Tenis in Barcelona in conjunction with the Barcelona City Council. The joint project was undertaken by former RCTB President Juan Maria Tintoré as a means to collaborate in the reconstruction of Sarajevo as well as to promote the re-integration of children into sports following the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s. Top names to have graced this tournament include Daniil Medvedev and Marin Cilic, and some of the Junior Tour’s most successful players in recent years, such as Peter Privara (W, 2019) and Maria Bondarenko (F, 2017).
This year, President of the RCTB, Jordi Cambra, and club representative Santiago Tintoré were on hand at the presentation ceremony to say a few words and to present the winners with their trophies. | 📷 Photo Gallery
Category 2 Events
ARGAYON CUP | Nivelles (BEL) | 14/16 & Under
16 & Under | 📷 Photo Gallery
In the constant jostling for the top spot in the 16&U girls’ Race to Monte-Carlo, Rose Marie Nijkamp (NED) looks set to reclaim the top spot from Monika Stankiewicz (POL) after her win in the final over Nela Linhartova (CZE). Pranav Karthik (IND) beat Lorenzo Carboni (ITA) in the boys’ final.
Boys’ doubles champions: Lorenzo Carboni (ITA) & Daniele Rapagnetta (ITA)
Girls’ doubles champions: Emma Thulin Gregersen (DEN) & Nela Linhartova (CZE)
14 & Under | 📷 Photo Gallery
German Justin Engel played his sixth final of 2021, claiming his fourth title. He beat compatriot Lieven Mietusch in the final, a crucial win for eight-ranked Engel in his quest to book a spot in Monte-Carlo. Severine Deppner (FRA) beat Helene Sommer (GER) in the girls’ final.
Boys’ doubles champions: Jamie Mackenzie (NZL) & Michele Mecarelli (ITA)
Girls’ doubles champions: Emma Scaldalai (ITA) & Arianna Silvi (ITA)
ETC CUP | Budapest (HUN) | 14 & Under
Having already wrapped up the doubles title together, Kolos Kincses (HUN) beat his partner Filip Poklemba (SVK) in the boys’ singles final, while Melinda Biro (HUN) was the girls’ singles champion over top seeded Alena Kovackova (CZE).
Boys’ doubles champions: Kolos Kincses (HUN) & Filip Poklemba (SVK)
Girls’ doubles champions: Oliwia Kuszel (POL) & Maja Pawelska (POL)
SANCHEZ CASAL YOUTH CUP | Barcelona (ESP) | 14 & Under
Evan Jarzaguet (FRA) added to the doubles title he won in Cacak by winning his first singles tournament over local player Ruben Fernandez Ruiz. Meanwhile Marina Gatell (ESP) notched the singles-doubles one-two on home soil, winning the singles final over Natalia Krockova (SVK).
Boys’ doubles champions: Tito Chavez (ECU) & Eudald Gonzalez (ESP)
Girls’ doubles champions: Marina Gatell (ESP) & Sorana Matis (ESP)
LIEPAJA INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT | Liepaja (LAT) | 14 & Under
Niels McDonald (GER) added to his doubles win by taking the boys’ singles final over top seed Maxim Vlasov (RUS). Diana Smolinska (UKR) beat the doubles champ Anna Perelman (RUS) in the girls’ singles final.
Boys’ doubles champions: Niels McDonald (GER) & Heorhii Nazarov (UKR)
Girls’ doubles champions: Daniela Darta Feldmane (LAT) & Anna Perelman (RUS)
Week 34: The Junior Tour rolls on this week with another 16 events held across three age categories, in 11 European nations. For more information or to follow the latest results, check the calendar here.