American players dominated the Nike Junior International Teen Tennis event in Bolton (GBR), winning three of the four available titles. Appearing in Europe for back-to-back Category 1 events in Bolton and Tarbes, the US squad wasted no time in making an impact on the draws, causing some shocks along the way. In the boys’ event, Nathan Han recovered from a set down to inflict a 1-6 6-1 6-1 defeat on the top seed and European #1 Jack Draper in the quarterfinals, while wild card Anton Matusevich beat seeds in five consecutive matches, including #2 Adrian Andreev (BUL) in the semi-finals and #10 Lodewijk Westrate (NED) in the final, conceding just four games in the title match.
Westrate had earlier teamed with Nini Dica (ROU) to claim the doubles title over Han and Govind Nanda (USA) and looks set to make a big rankings jump next Tuesday.
The girls’ event also saw its top seed knocked out by an American in the quarterfinals as Amanda Anisimova ended the run of Oona Orpana on the Finn’s 14th birthday. Ansimova then beat compatriot Hurricane Tyra Black in the semi-finals but lost out to another American – Caty Mcnally in the final, 6-1 6-3. It was a great week for both Mcnally and Ansimova, who teamed up to beat Brits Sonay Kartal and Mae Mccutcheon for the doubles title.
Alexander Zgirovsky of Belarus followed up his runner-up spot at the O1 Properties Christmas Cup a fortnight ago by winning his first title at the Category 2 Smena Cup in Minsk. He conceded just three games to unseeded Ukrainian Alexander Vasyliev in the final. The girls’ final was a battle between the two tops seeds, with Russia’s Vlada Koval outlasting Vitalia Stamat in the a first set tie break before accelerating away for a 7-6(4) 6-1 win and a second Tennis Europe Junior Tour title. Stamat earlier teamed with Ksenia Yersh (BLR) to win the doubles, while the boy’s title went to Illya Beloborodko & Illya Revenko.
Home players reached both singles finals at the Category 3 Quality Hotel Open in Vänersborg, Sweden, but were unable to take the winner’s trophies. In a battle of two unseeded players, Joris Mouret of France beat Hugo Regner 6-2 6-4 for the boys’ title, while second seed Ella Haavisto of Finland survived a tight first set to beat Leticia Temirhanova 7-6(5) 6-0. Swedes Viktor Arsov & Edis Nokic claimed the boys’ doubles title with a 10-7 match tie break win over Andrew Paulson (CZE) & Milan Radojkovic (SRB), while the Latvian Semenistaja twins Darja & Marija won their first title of the season. The pair won a tour-leading seven titles in 2014, including six 12 & Under and one 14 & Under.
16 & Under
The Category 2 Vsevolozhsk Cup saw some of Russia’s emerging talents continue to impress. Anastasia Kharitonova was in fine form as she dismissed compatriot Alexandra Bukhareva 6-0 6-0 to claim her first 16 & Under title, having won a couple of 14 & Under events last year. In the boy’s event, Oleg Besednikov made it a Russian double, fighting back from a set down to overcome Latvia’s Daniils Batmanovs 6-7(6) 6-4 6-3 and claim his second title on the Tour.
Doubles trophies went to Belarusian pair Annei Laska & Aliaksandr Liaonenka and Russians Ekaterina Shalimova & Anastasia Veselova. Both teams scored nailbitingly close wins, with Laska & Liaonenka recovering from a 6-1 first set loss to beat Makar Smolyakov & Andrey Vorobyev (RUS) 12-10 in a match tie-break, while the Russian girls beat compatriots Anfisa Korolkova & Ekaterina Reyngold 11-9 in their own match tie-break.
Next week
There are just two events on the Tennis Europe Junior Tour next week, but both are important ones; the world’s best 14 & Under players will gather in Tarbes, France, for ‘Les Petits As’, while the qualifying rounds of the 12 & Under Tennis Europe Winter Cups by HEAD will take place from Friday to Sunday. You can keep up with all the latest news and results on the calendar page, or by following us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
Tennis Europe Junior Tour 25th anniversary
Some of the world's top professional players have been sending their anniversary messages for Tennis Europe Junior Tour players and sharing their memories of playing on the circuit.