The 2019 Tennis Europe Junior Tour Players of the Year have been revealed. The award is presented to the top-ranked European 14 and 16 & Under players according to the final Race to Junior Masters ranking of the season, plus a range of other winners selected for their achievements on the Tour throughout the year.
The four year-end #1s also receive the prize of a one-week stay at the prestigious Mouratoglou Academy in southern France, to be taken during 2020.
Former recipients of the award include Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Martina Hingis, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin, all world #1s.
For more information about the winners, check our social media channels and see their acceptance messages below.
BOYS 14&U: VOJTECH PETR (Czech Republic)
Ending the year at #1 in the Race, and #2 in the rolling ranking, the Czech has made enormous strides in 2019. Winner of four of the Tennis Europe Junior Tour’s biggest events he claimed titles at Les Petits As, Maia and Piestany as well as taking the gold medal at the European Junior Championships. Despite missing the Junior Masters, his amazing efforts throughout the rest of the season made him more than worthy of the title of Player of the Year.
GIRLS 14&U: PETRA MARCINKO (Croatia)
Eight singles finals, four titles and one doubles title is an amazing effort for the 14-year-old from Zagreb. Add to this an additional title at the Junior Masters and it is difficult to see anyone else more deserving. In addition to the trophy from Reggio Calabria, the understated and humble Croat picked up Category One titles in Foligno and in Paris and ends the year with an impressive 53-12 win-loss record.
BOYS 16&U: PETER BENJAMIN PRIVARA (Slovakia)
Closing out the year in the top 10 and as number one in the Race to the Masters, the Slovakian’s Player of the Year title comes with plenty of merit. After a gruelling season, he was upset in the semi-finals of the Junior Masters which did not detract from his achievements in 2019. His count of six tournament wins, including three Category One events (Barcelona, Warsaw and Sarajevo), made him one of the Tour’s most prolific winners in any age group. Building on his Tennis Europe Junior Tour win/loss record of 39-3 for the year, Privara has already gone on to score a first doubles title on the ITF Junior World Tennis Tour in Stavanger recently.
GIRLS 16&U: KSENIA ZAYTSEVA (Russia)
A prolific winner on the tour this year including five singles titles as well as four doubles titles, the Russian has been a powerhouse player from the get-go in 2019. Capping off the year as the Junior Masters champion, adding to her Category One wins in Barcelona and Torelló, receiving the Player of the Year honour is the perfect ending to a fantastic year.
DOUBLES TEAM OF THE YEAR: NIKOLA BARTUNKOVA & AMELIE SMEJKALOVA (Czech Republic)
In a competitive category, the Czech girls take the honours. The pair won Category One titles in two age categories, namely 16&U Sarajevo and 14&U Piestany tournaments. Furthermore, they each won additional doubles titles with other partners.
OVERSEAS PLAYER OF THE YEAR (BOY): RODRIGO PACHECO MENDEZ (Mexico)
Closing out the year at number 26 in the 14 & Under rankings, the Mexican lost just five of his 26 singles matches. He took the Category 1 singles championships in Rakovnik as well as the doubles trophy at the Category 1 tournament in Bucharest.
OVERSEAS PLAYER OF THE YEAR (GIRL): VICTORIA MBOKO (Canada)
Also finishing at number 26 on the 14 & Under rankings, Mboko had incredible results from a limited European schedule. She played four events, claiming two Category One titles (Bolton and Dueren), as well as the singles and doubles title at the Category Two tournament in Nantes.
NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR: RUSSIA, 12&U GIRLS
Three teams managed the impressive feat of sweeping both the Winter and Summer team competitions, but the performances of the Russian 12&U girls stood out, with more wins and less losses than the victors in other age categories. The team was also more constant, with remarkably little turnover of team members between the two events.
Team members: Mirra Andreeva, Alina Korneeva, Dana Pozhidaeva, Victoria Milovanova. Captain: Artem Derepasko (Note: At the Nations Challenge, Milovanova replaced Pozhidaeva).
2019 saw more Tennis Europe Junior Tour events than ever before, with 408 tournaments held and over 12,000 players taking part. Stay tuned for more news on what promises to be an unforgettable 2020 soon!
Photo Gallery: 2019 Players of the Year