A busy week on the Junior Tour was highlighted by not one but two Category 1 tournaments. Both had links to the Spanish city of Barcelona, with the 14 & Under event held at the Emilio Sanchez Academy on the outskirts of the city, and the 16 & Under event in Sarajevo bearing the name of the Real Club de Tennis Barcelona, whose former president Juan María Tintoré created the tournament in 1988 as part of a project to promote tennis for young people in Bosnia & Herzegovina following the conflict there.
Youth Cup, Barcelona (ESP) - Category 1, 14 & Under
After two consecutive finals in Düren and Hasselt, Valentin Gonzalez-Galino had an amazing week playing at home. He ruled the courts in Barcelona and did not concede a set throughout the entire tournament. The Spaniard breezed through the first two matches, conceding just one game. Facing top seed Zangar Nurlanuly (KAZ), he was always in control and secured a quick 6-3 6-2 win. The final against second seed Lenny Petit (FRA) had an intense first set, ending in a tie-break. Determined not to go home with another runner-up trophy, Gonzalez-Galino had the edge and eventually sealed a 7-6(3) 6-2 win. The title will be a big boost to his hopes of qualifying for the Junior Masters in Monte-Carlo. Currently in 15th place in the Race, he’ll be making a big jump when the rankings are updated tomorrow.
In the boys’ doubles final, sixth seeds Mattia Bille & Mattia Cappellari (ITA) beat unseeded home hopes Oscar Casas Mas & Roberto Perez Socas (ESP) 6-4 4-6 10-8.
In the girls’ event, Sofie Hettlerova had her game on point in Barcelona. Though the heat might have been a problem for some, the Czech didn’t seem to mind and was in full control during every match. Starting from the third round, she only had top-seeded opponents, yet was far from intimadated playing against them. In the semifinal against second seed Alexia Ioana Tatu (ROU), Hettlerova was more patient and sharper in key moments. She faced Turkish fourth seed Ada Kumru for the final match and secured her 6th singles title this year with a 6-3 6-0 victory. Like the boys’ champion, she came into the Barcelona event ranked 15th in the Race to Monte-Carlo and will be looking to make a big leap forward thanks to her win.
In the doubles draw, Hettlerova made a great team together with her partner Maia Ilinca Burcescu (ROU). Not only did they have matching outfits (as seen on TikTok), but they also had good chemistry. Game, set, match, tournament was called for them in the final against Ada Kumru (TUR) and Eva Zharova, after a 6-3 2-6 10-7 match. This is the 4th doubles title in 2022 for the Czech player, while for Burcescu it’s the third.
The tournament in Barcelona was a learning experience for the players, on and off the court. They also had the chance to attend the Tennis Europe Junior School on Tuesday. Touching on interesting topics such as Warm-Up & Recovery and Social Media, the players actively participated in the session hosted by Tennis Europe team members.
During the session, the players were given advice on how to prepare for a match and tips on how to recover afterwards, with information on the benefits of methods including meditation, taking ice baths, and massage therapy.
A discussion about social media highlighted the many pros and cons of using social platforms. Young athletes learn how they can use their own accounts in a positive way and how to avoid bullying, sharing private information, or spending too much time in the virtual world.
Open RCT Barcelona-1899 Sarajevo (BIH) – Category 1, 16 & Under
Meanwhile in Sarajevo, Kerem Yilmaz claimed his first Tennis Europe title of 2022, making the perfect start to his participation on the ITF/Tennis Europe 16&U Touring Team. In fact, the entire Team performed well, with Yilmaz facing his teammates in each of the last three matches. There was an intense quarter-final against Pole Alan Wazny, won by Yilmaz in three sets 4-6 6-1 6-2. He then met Arturs Zagars (LAT), seeded 5, in the semifinal, and scored a quick victory 6-2 6-1. In the final against Oskari Paldanius (FIN), even though the Turk was one set down, he once again managed to make a comeback and secure the win 2-6 6-3 6-4.
In the girls’ event, Emilia Kats had a smooth beginning with two-set wins all the way to the semifinals, where things got a bit more complicated. She faced rising star Veronika Sekerkova (CZE) in the quarter-finals and posted a 6-4 6-1 triumph. However, during the semifinal against Andrada Ekaterina Komarov she was stretched to limit. The Romanian levelled the match in the second set before Kats regained her focus and was declared the winner 6-3 3-6 6-4. The final came with a very similar scenario, as she played against Dusica Popovski (SRB) who had played a great tournament, upsetting third seed Flora Farkaslaki Hints (HUN) early in the week and seventh seed Andreea Diana Soare (ROU) in the quarters. The third time wasn’t a charm for the Serb, and Kats added a second Category 1 singles title to her list of 2022 achievements, winning 6-4 4-6 6-3.
Boys’ Doubles Final:
Oskari Paldanius (FIN) & Arturs Zagars (LAT) def. Antonio Voljavec (CRO) & Sergej Zivkovic (SRB) 6-4 6-1
Girls’ Doubles Final:
Alexandra Irina Anghel & Diana Simionescu (ROU) def. Laima Vladson (LTU) & Beatrise Zeltina (LAT) 4-6 6-3 10-5
More ITF/Tennis Europe Touring Teams Updates
14 & Under:
- Ada Kumru (TUR) played both the singles and doubles finals in Barcelona
- Nehir Dogan (TUR) lost the doubles quarterfinal against Kumru and her partner
- Alexia Ioana Tatu (ROU) reached the semifinal and lost to the tournament winner
- Andreas Messis (GRE) had to retire in the semifinal against Gonzalez-Galino
- The players are all traveling home today, as their journey ended with the tournament in Barcelona
16 & Under:
- Laima Vladson (LTU) reached the singles quarterfinal and played the doubles final
- Beatrise Zeltina (LAT) got to the semifinal and played the doubles final
- Diana Simionescu (ROU) won the doubles title
- The team (pictured, below) moves on to play this week in Warsaw, at another Category 1 tournament
Elsewhere on the Tennis Europe Junior Tour last week:
- Mats Egbring (GER) and Marilyn Van Brempt (BEL) won their first 14&U singles titles at the Argayon Cup in Nivelles (BEL)
- Michele Mecarelli and Arianna Silvi (ITA) won their first 16&U singles titles at the Argayon Cup
- Rares Stefan Rugina (ROU) claimed his first singles title of the year at Brasov Open in Romania, as did compatriot Ioana-Stefania Boian
- At the Category 2 16 & Under event in Regensburg, Polina Humeniuk (UKR) extended her 2022 unbeaten streak to 13/0, including three tournament wins
For full results from last week on the Junior Tour, click here.