The 2026 edition of the ITF/Tennis Europe 16&U Touring Team has concluded another successful summer campaign, providing eight promising young players from across Europe with invaluable international competition and development opportunities through the Grand Slam Player Development Programme.
Guided by experienced coaches Aleksander Jurgens (EST) and Tanja Stojanovska (MKD), the team competed across three consecutive World Tennis Tour Juniors events. The tour began with a J100 tournament in Pazardzhik (Bulgaria), before continuing to a J60 event in Timișoara (Romania) and concluding with a J100 tournament in Târgu Mureș (Romania). Throughout the month-long journey, the players gained valuable experience both on and off the court, adapting to new environments while learning the demands of life on the international junior circuit.
This year's Touring Team featured:
Boys
Sebastian Tejerina (POL)
Darius Dorin (ROU)
Pavle Stojiljković (SRB)
Alexandros Avgeris (GRE)
Girls
Olimpia Jagodtinska (POL)
Maryia Magro (MLT)
Ilina Ilieva (BUL)
Antonia Anastasia Papagapitou (GRE)
The team enjoyed a number of strong performances throughout the tour. In Pazardzhik, Pavle Stojiljković and Sebastian Tejerina captured the boys' doubles title to give the Touring Team an excellent start. The momentum continued in Timișoara, where Stojiljković reached the boys' singles final before teaming up with Alexandros Avgeris to win a second doubles title. The girls also impressed in Romania, with Olimpia Jagodtinska reaching the singles semi-finals, while Antonia Anastasia Papagapitou and Maryia Magro advanced to the doubles semi-finals. The tour concluded with another notable singles result as Darius Dorin finished runner-up on home soil at the J100 event in Târgu Mureș.
Beyond the results, the Touring Team continued to demonstrate the value of the programme in supporting players as they transition from national to international competition. Travelling and competing together over several weeks allowed the players to develop both on and off the court, gaining experience in the professionalism, resilience and independence required at the highest level of junior tennis. Under the guidance of the coaching team, the group benefited from a structured high-performance environment while building friendships and learning from one another throughout the journey.
The ITF/Tennis Europe 16&U Touring Team remains one of the flagship initiatives of the European Assistance Programme, helping talented players from developing tennis nations gain essential international experience and prepare for future success on the professional pathway. Once again, the 2026 edition highlighted the programme's lasting value, combining competitive success with personal growth and reinforcing its role in the development of Europe's next generation of tennis talent.