In a year of firsts, this year’s Tennis Europe Junior Tour Players of the Year can now be officially announced.
There are eight awards which are given to various players across different categories:
- The 4 top-ranked European 14 and 16 & Under boys and girls in the Race to Monte-Carlo at the end of the season
- 2 overseas players of the year
- 2 team awards: doubles and team/squad
In what is an unprecedented feat in the history of the #TEJT, one player will claim two singles accolades. Alena Kovackova had a stellar year, ending 2022 reigning both the girls’ 16&U and 14&U rankings. Nicolai Budkov-Kjaer also set a record by becoming the first-ever Norwegian player to earn the Player of the Year title in either age category.
Former recipients of the award include Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Martina Hingis, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin, all world #1s.
For more information about the winners, check our social media channels and see their acceptance messages below.
GIRLS’ 14 & UNDER: ALENA KOVACKOVA (Czech Republic)
As top seed at the Les Petits As Super Category, Kovackova was upset in a three-set semi-final by the eventual champion, Julia Stusek. The German’s upset of Kovackova was a catalyst for Czech’s unrivalled 2022 campaign where she dominated across both age groups and all surfaces. Her astounding 48/1 win/loss record over the year is a testament to solid and smart, yet calm and steady play. Tournament wins in the age group:
- Christmas Cup, Khimki (Super Category)
- Taça Internacional, Maia (Super Category)
- European Junior Championships, Most
GIRLS’ 16 & UNDER: ALENA KOVACKOVA (Czech Republic)
In this category, Kovackova remained undefeated all year. Having qualified for the Tennis Europe Junior Masters in both age groups, Kovackova elected to play against her older peers, winning the jewel in the crown on the #TEJT and capping off an absolutely sensational season. Tournament wins:
- Tennisline Cup, Milovice (Category 2)
- Joan Mir, Torelló (Category 1)
- Sanchez Academy Youth Cup, Barcelona (Category 1)
- Internacional Nacho Juncosa, Vic (Category 1)
- Tennis Europe Junior Masters, Monte Carlo
BOYS’ 14 & UNDER: DIEGO DEDURA-PALOMERO (Germany)
The German ended the year with a win/loss record of 39/5, an 88.6% winning percentage. He was the silver medal winner at the European Junior Championships, and picked up two other titles in 2022:
- Cup de Nordverbande, Isernhagen (Category 3)
- Tennis Europe Junior Masters, Monte Carlo
BOYS’ 16 & UNDER: NICOLAI BUDKOV KJAER (Norway)
The Norwegian ruled the Race to Monte Carlo from the start of the year, aided by a strong 41/9 win/loss record. In addition, he was a quarterfinalist at the European Junior Championships, losing to eventual silver-medalist and the soon-to-be US Open Junior Champion Martin Landaluce. He also claimed a runner-up berth at the Category 1 Tournament in Vic (ESP), plus four tournament wins:
- Tennisline Cup, Milovice (Category 2)
- Siauliai U16, Siauliai (Category 2)
- Norwegian Open, Oslo (Category 3)
- Tennis Europe Junior Masters, Monte Carlo
OVERSEAS PLAYER OF THE YEAR (GIRLS) – VICTORIA LUIZA BARROS (Brazil)
As the highest-ranked non-European on the year-end rankings, the Sao Paolo native boasts a 28/9 win/loss record for the year as well as a doubles tournament win on top of two 14&U singles titles:
- Open Stade Français, Paris (Category 1)
- TCW Academy International, Waiblingen (Category 2)
OVERSEAS PLAYER OF THE YEAR (BOYS) – ZANGAR NURLANULY (Kazakhstan)
Part of a wave of strong players hailing from the central Asian nation, Nurlanuly was the only non-European to finish in the top 40 in either of the boys’ categories, ending the year at #9 on the 14&U ranking. This was thanks in no small part to a runner-up trophy Open Stade Français, Paris (14&U, Cat.1), plus two 14&U titles at the front end of the season:
- Tim Essonne, Sainte Geneviève de Bois (Category 1)
- Baseline Open, Banska Bystrica (Category 2)
DOUBLES TEAM OF THE YEAR - Nadezhda Morozova & Kiira Pashkov (Estonia)
This team won four tournaments together this year – more than any other pair in any age category. This is an astounding feat for players on the 12&U tour, whose 2022 haul of winners’ trophies reads as follows:
- Trophy Ajuntament de Calvia, Santa Ponsa (Category 1)
- Sparkasee Bambini Cup, Kufstein (Category 1)
- Passagespoirs, Le Passage (Category 1)
- 23 April Cup, Antalya (Category 1)
NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR – Czech Republic, Girls’ 14&U
The formidable combination of juggernaut Alena Kovackova along with the 2021 Junior Masters champ and Player of the Year Laura Samsonova, as well as Eliska Forejtkova were an unstoppable force in 2022. (Forejtkova also teamed with Kovackova to take the gold medal at the European Junior Championships, as well as 2 other events!) This Czech trio took out both major 14&U team competitions that took place this year:
- Summer Cups: Champions
- ITF World Junior Tennis Finals Prostejov: Champions
For a full list of previous Players of the Year, click here.