This year’s European 18 & Under team recently completed a six-week tour during which they competed at high-level ITF Junior tournaments in North Africa and Europe. The team was comprised of three boys - Kenneth Raisma (EST), Bojan Jankulovski (MKD) and Vladyslav Chumak (UKR) - one girl, Ulyana Grib (BLR), and coach Goran Shevchenko from Macedonia.
First stop was Tunis, where the team took part in a four-day training camp prior to the Grade 2 ITF Junior Tunisia. In the boys’ singles event, Kenneth Raisma reached the semi-final where he put a valiant fight against Clement Larriere (FRA) before losing 4-2 4-5(3) [10-5]. Vladyslav Chumak reached the third round where he lost to his teammate Raisma 4-2 2-4 [10-6]. In the girls’ singles event, Ulyana Grib reached the quarterfinal where she lost to Tatiana Makarova (RUS) 4-2 5-3. In the doubles event, Grib reached the semi-final partnering Eliza Omirou (CYP) where they faced stronger opponents Berfu Cengiz (TUR) & Lesedi Sheya Jacobs (NAM) and lost 4-1 4-1. In the boys doubles, Raisma/Chumak reached the quarters before losing a tight match to Isa Mammetgulyyev (TKM) & Gian Marco Moroni (ITA) 5-3 2-4 [11-9]
The Hammamet ITF Juniors Tournament was the next tournament on the schedule, and the team faced a change of court surface from hard to clay. In the singles tournament Vladyslav Chumak fell in the second round to second seeded Aziz Dougaz (TUN) and lost 6-1 6-3 while Kenneth Raisma had a long and dramatic match, saving three match points before eventually losing to Gorazd Srbljak (MKD) 4-6 6-3 7-6(7). In doubles tournament Grib & Omirou again showed some great tennis by reaching the semi-final, but again lost out to Cengiz & Jacobs 6-7(0) 6-4 [10-7] in a very long and unpredictable match. In the boys doubles, Raisma & Chumak repeated their quarterfinal march, losing to Nicolas Moreno De Alboran (ESP) & Marco Mosciatti (ITA) 6-3 7-5.
For the third week, the team moved to Morocco to compete at the Grade 1 Mediterranee Avenir which was held in Casablanca and saw most of the players post improved performances. In the boys’ singles, Kenneth Raisma reached the quarterfinal but was beaten by Patrik Nema (SVK) 7-5 6-3 in a hard-fought match. Bojan Jankulovski (MKD) returned after ten days of sickness and gave a solid performance, passing the qualification and winning his first round match. In his next match he put up a great fight against top seeded Alex Molcan (SVK) but unfortunately lost 7-5 6-4. Ulyana Grib again reached the doubles semi-final; this time partnering Nikolina Jovic (SRB) and falling to Tamara Zidansek (SLO)/Tereza Kolarova (CZE) 6-3 6-4.
Before the final tournament the players had a chance to practice for four days at the ITF Training Centre in Casablanca, Morocco, and for three days at SEB Arena in Vilnius, Lithuania.
The last event was the Grade 2 Aivaras Balzekas Memorial Cup held in Siauliai, Lithuania. All the players had a great challenge to adjust to Hard Indoor after playing more than two weeks on outdoor clay. In the boys’ singles Kenneth Raisma lost in the second round against Aaro Pollanen (FIN) 7-5 7-5, Vladyslav Chumak showed great performance against the eventual champion Tim Sandkaulen (GER) but lost 6-4 6-4. Bojan Jankulovski again played the qualification but this time entered the main draw as a lucky loser and lost to Mattias Siimar (EST) 6-4 6-0 in second round.
Goran Shevchenko, the team coach, commented: “This was great opportunity for most of the players to compete in a series of very strong events and try to improve their game and gain experience for the forthcoming season and future challenges. All of the team members showed a good fighting spirit and took advantage of the opportunity to play and practice every day with high level players”.