France (boys) and Czechia (girls) have won this year’s 16&U Tennis Europe Winter Cups by Dunlop titles. The victories mark a familiar step onto the podium at the European Indoor Team Championships for the two of the most dominant teams at this event in recent years, with France’s boys participating in five of the last seven finals and Czechia’s girls in two of the last four.
Both 16 & Under finals were again hosted by the French Tennis Federation, with the boys’ event staged in Ronchin for a fourteenth year, while the girls returned to Brest, home of the final rounds since 2019.
Facts and Figures
- France (boys) have now played in an amazing 28 finals in this event, with this year’s win earning them a 16th victory
- Their most recent finals appearance came in 2024
- Poland was seeking a first title in this age group, repeating the result they earned in 2012 when they also fell to the French in the final
- The Czech girls claimed a sixth title from eight finals since 2008.
- The Spanish girls progressed to the final for the first time since winning in 1998, their only other finals appearance
Boys' Final
France def. Poland 2-1
France’s road to the final:
Zone A Qualifying Rounds: R1 def Ukraine 3-0; R2 def Romania 2-1; Qualifying Final def Slovenia 2-0
Final Rounds: QF def Czechia 2-1; SF def Hungary 2-1
Poland’s road to the final:
Zone B Qualifying Rounds: R1 def Finland 3-0; R2 def Great Britain 2-1; Qualifying Final def Czechia 2-1
Final Rounds: QF def Germany 2-1; SF def Slovenia 3-0
Pablo Pradat kicked off Saturday’s final, putting the hosts up one rubber to love with a straightforward 6-3 6-1 win over Blazej Krzysko. Team Poland was not done yet with Sebastian Tejerina, the winner of four 16&U TEJT titles in 2025 and #2 in the rankings, holding off Benoit Geldof 7-6(5) 6-2 to level the match.
With all four players returning to court, it was one-way traffic in the deciding doubles, as Pradat and Geldof comfortably outhitting their opponents 6-1 6-3. Pradat was the linchpin of the team, having gone through the qualifying and final rounds undefeated and without dropping a set in singles.
Girls' Final
Czechia def Spain 2-1
Spain’s road to the final:
Zone D Qualifying Rounds: R1 def Estonia 3-0; R2 def Slovakia 2-1; Qualifying Final def Belgium 2-1
Final Rounds: QF def Great Britain 3-0; SF def Romania 2-1
Czechia’s road to the final:
Zone C Qualifying Rounds: R1 def Lithuania 3-0; R2 def Hungary 3-0; Qualifying Final def Poland 2-0
Final Rounds: QF def Belgium 2-1; SF def France 2-1
Czechia secured the title in a flash thanks to two singles victories. First, Karolina Smidova put her team ahead 1-0 by beating Ailish Garcia 6-4 6-4. This was followed by a 6-2 6-2 win for 2024 14&U Junior Masters runner-up Katerina Zajickova over Paola Piñera, who is currently ranked #9 on the Junior Tour rankings.
There was some consolation for the Spaniards, as they held off the Czechs to take the dead doubles rubber. Garcia teamed with Liliana Chetry to outlast Smidova and Sofie Mottlová 4-2 4-5(6) 10-8.
Like Pradat in the Boys, Zajickova was arguably Czechia’s MVP, ending the competition unbeaten at both the qualifying and final rounds. With the title, Czechia became the only nation to win two different Winter Cups events in 2026, having already claimed the Girls 12&U crown last weekend.
Hungary picked up the bronze medal in the boys’ event, while third place in the girls’ event went to France, the host nation.
Final Standings
Boys:
1. France 2. Poland 3. Hungary 4. Slovenia 5. Czechia 6. Germany 7. Spain 7. Turkiye
Girls:
1. Czechia 2. Spain 3. France 4. Romania 5. Great Britain 6. Belgium 7. Italy 8. Poland