A first all-Russian final and a showdown between top-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas from Greece and unseeded Frenchman Corentin Moutet - the 20th edition of the EJCS in Klosters will see a mouth-watering epilogue.
Martina Hingis showed in the first edition of the EJCS at Klosters in 1994 that it can be done. She won the junior Slam titles in Paris and Wimbledon and remained unbeaten in the Swiss resort a couple of weeks later. However, since then the reigning Grand Slam champions have trouble in confirming their results in the Swiss mountains, Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic being two well-known examples. With Swiss shooting star Rebeka Masarova and Geoffrey Blancaneaux from France, this year’s winners at Roland Garros were eliminated on Saturday. Whereas Masarova, visibly tired after the intense last two weeks, lost versus Russian defensive artist Amina Anshba, Blancaneaux fell short against Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas.
There had been several finals featuring players from the same nation in the first 19 editions in Klosters. However, never before had two Russian girls had squared off for the gold. 21 years after a certain Anna Kournikova, it is now sure that the most important European junior trophy will be won by a Russian again. Top-seeded Olesya Pervushyna is the clear favourite. The #2 in the ITF ranking has reached the semis in Paris and Wimbledon but has already won two tournaments on the lowest professional level this season and has already made her way up to position 609 in the WTA ranking. Her compatriot Anshba, born on 9.9.99, has shown tremendous defensive skills and fast legs. The #9 in the ITF ranking, who has upset Masarova twice in the last five weeks, taking the win both times in three sets, wants to take revenge for a semi-final loss at the Trofeo Bonfiglio in Milan.
There is a difference in height of 18 centimetres between the finalists Stefanos Tsitsipas und Corentin Moutet. The spoiled crowd in Klosters can particularly look forward to this battle between two complete players with an extremely elaborated vision of the game. Top-seeded Tsitsipas, 193 cm tall, has a powerful serve and seems to have a strategy for every single point. On the other hand, his unseeded opponent, born in 1999, is very unpredictable. Moutet, who lost an epic battle with compatriot Geoffrey Blancaneaux in the quarters of Roland Garros, has only played two junior events this year and therefore dropped significantly in the rankings. The lefty, who is coached by former Top 10 player Thierry Tulasne is at present the #841 in the ATP rankings. Tsitsipas is the ITF #1 and already #359 in the ATP standings. He wants to take revenge for the semi-final losses of last year and on Under 16 level 2014 in Moscow, a tournament which was won by Sunday’s opponent.
On Saturday afternoon, the first Gold medals were awarded. The polish combination of Piotr Matuszewski & Kacper Zuk made short work of their Russian opponents Artem Dubrivnyy & Pavel Kotov whereas Norwegians Astrid Wanja Brune Olsen & Malene Helgo defeated Italians Federica Bilardo & Tatjana Pieri, claiming the trophy after two tight sets.
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European 16 & Under Championships
There will be an all-Spanish final at the 16 & Under event in Moscow. The two unseeded compatriots had contrasting paths through their semi-finals on Saturday, with Carlos Sanchez Jover the first to advance, when second-seeded rival Marko Miladinovic was forced to retire while trailing 2-5 in the first set. Rafal Izquierdo Luque was then forced to come from a set down to outlast France’s Jaimeee Floyd Angele 4-6 6-3 6-0 to complete the Iberian showdown.
The boys’ doubles final saw Britain’s Jake Hersey & Aidan McHugh edge past Petros Tsitsipas & Aitor Zerdilas Herrera of Greece 7-6(1) 7-5.
The top two seeds will face off for the girls’ final: tournament favourite and reigning European 14 & Under Champion Iga Swiatek of Poland brushed past Kaja Juvan (SLO) for the loss of just five games and next faces Serbia’s Olga Danilovic, who was even more convincing, conceding just two games to Lucie Kankova (CZE).
Swiatek has already sealed one gold medal in ruthless style, teaming with Maja Chwalinska to end the hopes of home team Varvara Gracheva & Vlada Koval 6-0 6-0.
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European 14 & Under Championships
There was plenty for the home crowds to cheer about on the penultimate day of the 14 & under event in Pilsen, Czech Republic. Denisa Hindova led the way, beating second seed Daria Frayman of Russia in three sets to book her place in the girls’ final. She’ll next face top seed Helene Pellicano of Malta, who came back from the brink of defeat to outlast Noa Krznaric (CRO) 2-6 7-6(4) 6-4.
Hindova then teamed up with Kristyna Lavickova to inflict another defeat on Frayman, this time alongside Avelina Sayfetdinova, in the girls doubles final.
The boys’s singles saw Dalibor Svrcina ensure more home interest on finals day, as he conceded just two games to Lorenzo Rottoli. Rottoli’s compatriot Lorenzo Musetti managed to go one step further than his doubels partner, reeling off eight games to beat Spain’s Mario Gonzalez Fernandez.
The Italians also came up short in the doubles final, which was won by Arthur Cazaux & Lilian Marmousez of France, 6-3 6-4.
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