The European 18 & Under titles have gone to Frenchman Quentin Halys and Spaniard Sara Sorribes Tormo after both players beat rivals from their own country in the final.
For a short while, it looked as if the final matches could be played outside. But shortly before players were due on court, the strongest ‘player’ in Klosters this week – the rain - once again denied organisers a punctual start. Both matches were delayed and players, staff and spectators eventually moved to Davos.
Of course, it would have been nicer to play outside but the intensity didn’t suffer from the change. Quentin Halys and Corentin Denolly showed tennis of an extremely high level with heavily-favored Halys eventually prevailing 6-4 7-5. The #2 seed was stronger towards the end of each set, and also appeared the fresher player mentally, with Denolly committing two double faults on the final two points. An understandable let down for the in-form player, who was playing in his 27th match of this month.
For Halys, who had won the doubles on Saturday alongside standard partner Johan Sébastien Tatlot, a perfect week came to an end. A finalist in 2013, he now leaves the Swiss mountains with two gold medals. “From last year, I knew what to expect and I coped well with the conditions. I definitely couldn’t have asked for more”, Halys said. He is the seventh French winner in Klosters. To top their triumph off, they also won the nations ranking.
Sara Sorribes Tormo is only the second female from Spain to lift the trophy after Carla Suarez Navarro in 2006. She defeated her doubles partner and best friend Paula Badosa Gibert 6-4 6-1. The resistance of the younger opponent was broken after Sorribes Tormo had taken the close first set. She had also left her mark last year by forcing Belinda Bencic into a deciding set in the quarterfinal, and won the 16 & Under Championship in 2012. Sorribes Tormo is already mainly playing on the adult tour, with Klosters her first junior event since the US Open 2013.
Sorribes & Badosa had already claimed one medal by virtue of their runner-up spot in the doubles on Saturday. They were beaten by Britain's Emily Arbuthnott & Freya Christie, who became the first players from their nation to win the title since the very first Championship in 1976.
Of course, the fact that four days out of seven were rained out has left its marks with all the parties. But the organizing team around tournament director Hans Markutt rose to the challenge and received lots of positive feedback for their high-quality work and the extra hours. Klosters will host the 18&U for at least two more years, with 2016 marking the 20 year jubilee. After this year, better weather is almost guaranteed!
Note: Thanks to Marco Keller for the daily reports this week from Klosters.
Draw and Results
Boys Singles | Boys Doubles | Girls Singles | Girls Doubles | Photos | Facebook