Strawberries and cream, check. Special guests in the Royal box, check. Rain delays, check! What would another year in SW19 be without all of these staples that we’ve come to know as tennis tradition over the years? Fun and games aside, let’s take a look into some of the results of our past and present Tennis Europe Junior Tour stars playing in the main draws, juniors and - for the second year running - the 14 and Under Invitational event.
Djoker Aced by new King
In a match between two former European Junior Champions Carlos Alcaraz (16&U, 2016) has proven to be a thorn in Novak Djokovic’s (14&U, 2001) side. Crawling back from a shaky start the young Spaniard snatched the second set tiebreak and eventually took his second major in 5 sets, thwarting the Serb’s hope of Slam #24 in a classic match that attracted record TV audiences and had the centre court crowd enthralled.
Czech Them Out
Marketa Vondrosouva has won her first major, beating Ons Jabeur 6-4 6-4 in the title decider. It’s great news for the Czech, beset by injuries for the better part of the past year. She was an EJC singles silver medalist and doubles gold medalist (14&U, 2013). Meanwhile, compatriot 21-year-ol Jiri Lehecka, winner of 10 TEJT title in singles and doubles including 14&U EJC doubles gold in 2015, beat seed Francisco Cerundolo (ARG) and Tommy Paul (USA) before retiring due to injury against Daniil Medvedev while down two sets in Round 4.
To add to the Czech success, former doubles world #1 Barbora Strycova also took the women’s doubles title, meaning Czechs appeared in all women’s and girls’ finals.
Mirra Mirra, on the Wall
Current TEJT 16&U #1 Mirra Andreeva also made an impact at Wimbledon reaching the round of 32, where she took the first set off Madison Keys. Unimpressed with her play after that, she was not happy leaving the court, but she has plenty to be proud of and we have a lot of amazing tennis to look forward to from this fantastic young star.
JUNIORS
Boys
- Henry Searle (GBR, pictured) def Yaroslav Demin 6-4 6-4 in the boys’ final, the first home champion in six decades.
- Other #TEJT stars to do well included our 2021 16&U Player of the Year Tomasz Berkieta (POL) as well as Iliyan Radulov (BUL), both of whom were quarterfinalists.
- Last year’s 14&U EJC gold medalist Thijs Boogard made the second round at just 15 years of age.
Girls
- Clervie Ngounoue (USA) defeated Nikola Bartunkova (CZE) 6-2 6-2 in the final. The Czech finalist had appeared in no less than 22 TE tournament finals (singles and doubles), winning 13.
- Other Europeans successfully reached the semis: Renata Jamrichova (SVK) and Alina Korneeva.
- Reigning 14 & Under Junior Masters champion Alena Kovackova teamed with Laura Samsonova to claim the girls' doubles title.
- Two Brits also made it to the QF: Rana Akua Stoiber and 2022 Roehampton 14&U Champ Mika Stojsavljevic
14 & UNDER INVITATIONAL
- Current Race to Monte-Carlo leader Mark Ceban won the boys’ final. He beat Slovenian Svit Suljic 7-6(5) 6-3 to win on home soil.
- Another all-European final in the girls’ draw also featured prominent TEJT players. Luna Vujovic (SRB) took out Brit Hollie Smart 6-3 6-1 in the final.
These players will now make a quick transition from the fast grass to the slower clay of Most (CZE), as they spearhead their nations’ efforts for podium finishes at the European Junior Championships.
For full results from Wimbledon, visit www.wimbledon.com