In a unique conclusion to a special 30th anniversary edition of the Open RCT Barcelona 1899 - Sarajevo tournament, Serbian siblings Zana and Igor Peric took the girls’ and boys’ titles respectively. At a Category 1 tournament steeped in history, and whose past participants include the likes of Daniil Medvedev and Marin Cilic, the organisers laid on a host of activities and welcomed players aged 16 & Under from across Europe and even as far as Saudi Arabia. | Photo Gallery
Current Race to Monte-Carlo leader and European #12 Igor Perić was in dominant form all week. The No. 1 seed debuted with a commanding 6-0 6-0 win in round 1 and never looked back. He did not lose a set on route to the title, overcoming #8 seed Sergey Artemev in the quarter-final and fifth seeded home hope Mahir Butkovic (BIH) in the semis. He completed the run by beating Poland’s Mikolaj Solarz 6-0 7-5 to claim his fourth title from six finals this year.
Not to be outdone by her brother, Zana Perić produced an equally impressive run to the girls’ title. As the seventh seed, she sprinted to the quarter finals where she took out Ania Curuia (ROU) who had earlier knocked out top seed Danai Margariti (CYP). There was no stopping Peric however as she stormed to a fourth title of 2026 with a 6-3 6-2 win over Raya Markova (BUL). Winning a 16&U Category 1 event is an especially impressive feat given that just nine months ago Peric was the champion at the Carlos Moyá 12&U Festival.
More from Sarajevo:
- The boys’ doubles champions were Dimitrije Gligorov (SRB) & Sergey Artmev, while Ana Chachkhunashvili (GEO) & Raya Markova were the girls’ doubles champions
- The tournament was visited by pro player Damir Dzumhur and rising star/2024 champion Tea Kovacevic, both Bosnians, who engaged in ceremonial activities and meet-and-greets, as well as members from Bosnian Tennis
- A Tennis Europe Junior School session was held before the event focused on media as well as the history of the tournament
- Haris Kafedzic, President of the Club TennisPro 1996, also spoke at the Junior School and gave us some insights about the birth of this event: “We have been running this tournament for 30 years in cooperation with the Real Club de Tenis de Barcelona. After the war in Bosnia at the end of 1995, we had a meeting with Juan Maria Tintoré, the President of RCT Barcelona. He had been asked by Pasqual Maragall, then Mayor of Barcelona, to help recover the sport of tennis in Sarajevo. We started with a small tennis tournament in 1996. Then, with the support of Tennis Europe, we began with a Category three 16&U event, which grew into what has now been a Category 1 event for nine consecutive years.”
Elsewhere on the Junior Tour
- AGNO, SWITZERLAND (16&U, Cat.2)
Dane Nicholai Petersen picks up a second title from six finals. Lilly Falkenberg has played 14&U events this year, reaching one final and also claiming the silver medal in doubles at the 14&U European Junior Championships. Her maiden win in 2026 has now come at a 16&U event on home soil. Both players backed up their wins with victory in the doubles: Peterson paired with Filippo Fazion (ITA) while Falkenberg partnered Alexandra Budkova Kjaer (NOR), sister of 2022 Junior Masters champ (16&U) Nicolai Budkov Kjaer.
- NIVELLES, BELGIUM (14&U, 16&U, Cat.2)
The Argayon Cup event's 14 & Under division saw Noe Rousseau Pacheco (LUX) win his third singles and fifth doubles titles of the season. Girls champion Tereza Vychodilova (CZE) also picked up her third singles title of 2026. The 16&U events were won by Maya Micheva (BUL) and home star Alexander Van San, who outlasted Thomas Debussche in an all-Belgian boys’ final. | Photo Gallery
- BARCELONA, SPAIN (14&U, Cat.2)
Another doubles silver medallist from the 14&U European Junior Championships, Pablo Jimenez Roman (ESP), took the boys’ title for a second 2026 title. Compatriot Anna Serafimovitch adds the 14&U title to the 16&U trophy she won at the same venue last week.
- REGENSBURG, GERMANY (12&U Cat.1)
Luiz Bauer (GER) and Josephine Silfverschiold (SWE) further strengthen their hopes of a spot at the season-ending Carlos Moyá 12 & Under Festival with another Category 1 victory - a second for Bauer (and third overall) and a third for the Swede.
For all of last week’s results, click here.