The fourth Super Category tournament of 2022 took place last week in Düren, Germany. Se Hyuk Cho and Julie Pastikova were the happy ones who went home with the trophies after a high quality tournament featuring many of the world's best 14 & Under players. For both, it’s the first Super Category singles title of their young careers. | Photo Gallery
BOYS
What a month for Se Hyuk Cho (KOR), who breezed through the tournament. Having a very recent win in France, at the Category 1 tournament La Balle Mimosa Loire-Atlantique, he showed up with undeniable confidence and a clear goal in mind. The Korean did not lose one set on the clay courts at Düren. He played the final against Ukrainian second seed Nikita Bilozertsev and secured the title 6-3 6-4. Champion at the Wimbledon 14 & Under event this year, Se Hyuk Cho also played three Tennis Europe tournaments in July, winning two of them. He has proven he hasn’t come all this way from Asia to go home empty-handed.
In doubles action, Austrian Constantin Neubauer and Polish Jan Urbanski made their debut as a team last week in Germany. They made a perfect start together, winning the final against Valentin Gonzalez-Galino (ESP) and Gabriel Nogueira (BRA) 6-2 7-6(5).
GIRLS
Julie Pastikova began the tournament strongly, with a quick 6-3 6-2 upset of Slovak 6th seed Kali Supova. She kept her focus as the matches went on, without losing any set until the semifinal, where she faced Czech compatriot and doubles partner Tereza Krejcova. Unlike her previous matches, this one put Julie in difficulty, as she lost a second set tiebreak that could have sent her directly to the final round. Despite the setback, she regained her confidence and eventually emerged victorious 6-3 6-7(4) 6-3. In the final, she played Sonja Zhenikhova (GER) who also had an impressive campaign at Düren. She defeated second seed Alexia Ioana Tatu (ROU) in the third round and the 12th seed Anna Pushkareva in the quarters. Without any tournament title under her belt this year, the German walked on the court on Saturday hoping to please the home crowd with a win. However, Paštiková, ended the tournament similarly to the way she started it – with two sets win 6-3 6-4. Although she has secured three doubles titles this year, including the Super Category tournament in Maia, Portugal, this is her first singles trophy of 2022.
Despite their early upsets in the singles draw, Kali Supova and Maia Ilinca Burcescu made a great doubles team. They played the final against Daria Koreshkova and Marta Mariia Makarova, recovering from the loss of the first set to come back and win 3-6 6-4 11-9.
Many of the players from Düren are going on to compete at the ITF World Junior Tennis finals in Prostejov (CZE) this week. Representing Europe are boys’ teams from Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Slovenia and Switzerland and girls’ teams from Czech Republic, Germany, Great Britain, Latvia, Serbia and Slovakia.
More news from last week:
The 16 and 18 & Under European Summer Cups qualifying rounds took place between 27-29 July in different locations across Europe. Two teams from each group advanced to the finals, held between 1-3 August. For full results and photo galleries, click here.