JUNIOR INTERNATIONAL ROEHAMPTON, 14&U CATEGORY 1
Matei Todoran (ROU) and Mika Stojsavljevic (GBR) have won the inaugural #TEJT Category 1 event on grass in Roehampton. In Saturday’s finals, they beat Maximilian Heidlmair (AUT) and Andreea Diana Soare (ROU) respectively. All four finalists have earned themselves a spot in the first ever 14 and Under exhibition event at Wimbledon 2022. Also qualifying is third placed Veronika Sekerkova (CZE), as a result of Stojsavljevic having already claimed a place at Wimbledon by winning the LTA Grade 1 event in East Glos.
The Buzz
There was plenty of excitement surrounding the Junior Tour's first grass court event. The tournament was held at the very same venue where the Wimbledon qualifying competition takes place.
For many of the players it was their first time playing on grass, and they flooded the Tennis Europe Instagram with clips having fun on the surface. There were off-court attractions too, with the opening day’s play followed by a special Junior School session. Players learned about a variety of topics, including mental health, and also met and talked to the team from the ITIA (International Tennis Integrity Agency), who informed about the sport’s anti-doping and anti-corruption measures.
The Tennis
The first day kicked off with plenty of tennis and with that came some upsets, as some top seeds were surprised in round one. Boys’ second seed Carel Aubriel Ngounoue lost a nail-biter to local Mark Ceban 6-3 4-6 7-6(3). In the girls’ draw there were more casualties, with Carlota Garcia Alonso [4] (ESP), Sophie Bekker [4] (GBR) and second seeded serb Luna Vujovic, winner of three titles in 2022, all saying goodbye in the singles.
Fewer upsets came on the second day, but there were a couple nonetheless. Fifth seeded Spaniard Valentin Gonzalez-Galino and eighth seed Constantine Neubauer (AUT) had their journeys ended. No such drama with the girls, as all the remaining seeds progressed, as did a swathe of local players. Such was the dominance of the Brits that in fact four of the eight quarterfinalists hailed from the host nation.
The giant-killing run of Mika Stojsavljevic (GBR) continued in the quarterfinals. Having taken out second seed Vojuvic in the first round, the Brit got past fifth seeded French player Scarlette Hetherington in straight sets. In the boys’ draw, Ceban, caused yet another upset. Emulating Stojsavljevic’s feat, he backed up his own first round defeat of the #2 seed with a comeback win over #7 Jamie Mackenzie (NZL).
In the semi finals, unseeded Stojsavljevic was yet again unstoppable, as she remained on her giant-killing run taking out seventh seed and doubles partner Arabella Loftus (GBR) in straight sets. Her opponent in the final in the end was the Romanian Andreea Diana Soare who conjured up her own surprise by taking out the in-form top seed Veronika Sekerkova. Unseeded Brit Ceban’s run finally came to an end at the hands of the Austrian sixth seed Heidlmar. He was to face top seed Matei Todoran in the final, after the Romanian beat another unseeded player in the form of Slovenian Svit Suljic.
The Finals
Playing in his fourth final of the year, Todoran made light work of Heidlmair in capturing his second title of the year. The Romanian walked away from Roehampton with a 6-3 6-1 win. His compatriot did not fare so well in her final. After a tight first set, Stojsavljevic outdid Soare 7-5 6-0 and now adds this impressive trophy to her cabinet along with the one she won in Wrexham two months ago.
Boys’ doubles final: Liam Channon (GBR)/Jakub Smejcky (CZE) d. Ziga Sesko/Svit Suljic (SLO) 1-6 7-6 14-12
Girls’ doubles final: Arabella Loftus/Mika Stojsavljevic (GBR) d. Alica Iozzi/Carla Vazquez Alcudia 6-2 6-2
Elsewhere this week:
- A massive event took place in Latvia at the Riga Open with three simultaneous events running in 12, 14 and 16 & Under age categories. Amongst the winners were Race to Monte-Carlo contender Lenny Petit (FRA, boys 14), Sofie Hettlerova (CZE, girls 16), home hope Odeta Panasa (LAT, girls 14) and Artem Lyapshin (GER), who claims a second Boys 16 & Under title in two weeks.
- Dusica Popovski played her third final of the year and won her first tournament at the Cacak Open in Serbia (14&U Cat.2). Akos Janos Toth won his second #TEJT title.
- At the 21st Realsport Open in the Czech Republic (16&U Cat.2) titles were won by home players. Sara Oliveriusova won her second title in as many weeks, while Stephan Sklenika won his maiden title of 2022.
- In Armenia, Yannick Theodor Alexandrescou claimed his fourth title of the year, and first at 16 & Under level.
For a full list of results and winners from this week, click here.