Last year‘s champions the Czech Republic fought valiantly to defend their Junior Billie Jean King Cup title. The dream of back-to-back trophies and a sixth overall was dashed, as they fell 0-2 at the last hurdle at the hands of the United States. Meanwhile Brazil’s boys’ team claimed a first ever win at the Junior Davis Cup.
On paper and given the pool of talent coming out of their nation, it seemed that this year’s Tennis Europe 16&U Summer Cups champions may have had the upper hand coming into the girls’ final. On form, however, it was the Americans who managed to qualify for the final with a superior record, without dropping a single match.
First up was #94 ranked junior Lucie Urbanova (CZE), who faced Valerie Glozman, ranked #816. Numbers only mean so much, and when the Americans play for the stars and stripes, sport takes on a whole new meaning, as Urbanova found out. After a tight tussle at first, Glozman breezed through the second set to post a 7-5 6-2 win to give her team a 1-0 advantage.
Seemingly with the edge yet again, girls’ world #11 junior Tereza Valentova (CZE) faced #40 Clervie Ngounoue in the second rubber. It was not to be for the Czechs as the Mouratoglou Academy alumnus made short work of the Czech, racing to a 6-2 6-3 win, putting the result beyond doubt for the US team.
With their singles victories and un-played doubles rubber, the United States hoisted their seventh Junior Billie Jean King Cup trophy. Prior to the final, Glozman told itftennis.com, “I am loving getting all this experience as I have never played internationally before. It’s really fun to face new competition.”
For the second time in the last three editions, no European team managed to make the boys’ final, which saw Brazil take on the USA. There was to be no clean sweep for the Americans though: Gustavo Almeida and Joao Fonseca scored straight sets wins over the twins Meecah and Kaylan Bugun respectively to give Brazil a first ever Junior Davis Cup gold medal. Summer Cups silver medallists Italy beat France to claim the bronze medals.
Here are the full final standings from Antalya, where the events were hosted by the Turkish Tennis Federation.
Junior Billie Jean King Cup by BNP Paribas
1. USA
2. Czech Republic
3. Japan
4. Serbia
5. Türkiye
6. Argentina
7. Germany
8. Australia
9. Netherlands
10. Spain
11. Tunisia
12. Egypt
13. Chile
14. Colombia
15. Thailand
16. Mexico
Junior Davis Cup by BNP Paribas
1. Brazil
2. USA
3. Italy
4. France
5. Czech Republic
6. Australia
7. Japan
8. Spain
9. Argentina
10. Paraguay
11. Great Britain
12. Morocco
13. Türkiye
14. India
15. Egypt
16. Mexico
For more information from both tournaments, click here.