Giulia Popa and Yannick Alexandrescou claimed their first Tennis Europe titles of the year at the ‘Joan Mir In Memoriam’ event in Torello, Spain. The Category 1 tournament welcomed players from all over the world for 9 days full of matches and entertaining activities. | 📸 Photo Gallery
Alexandrescou had a great week in Torello, upsetting several top seeds on his way to the title. He breezed through the first few matches and reached the semi-finals after quickly defeating German Jan Smrcka 6-1 6-2. He came back from a set down during his match against #1 seed Arturs Zagars (LAT) and faced Joao Morgado (POR) in the final. Even though the Portuguese has been dominating the Race to Monte-Carlo Rankings for weeks and might have seemed the favourite to win, Alexandrescou dominated throughout, and won 6-1 6-4.
Third time’s a charm for Giulia Popa. After being a runner-up in Bolton and Tarbes, this time Popa managed to claim victory at the end. Despite facing a tough challenge from Ksenia Efremova, the reigning Tim Essonne and Junior Masters 14 & Under champion, Popa was able to fight back and win the match 5-7 6-4 6-2. The Romanian has also started playing ITF tournaments and came to Torello in hot form, having claimed a J60 trophy in Latvia the previous week.
Boys Doubles final:
Stefanos Pournaropoulos & Ioannis Sakkas (GRE) def. Joao Morgado (POR) & Jan Smrcka (GER) 6-4 6-3
Girls Doubles final:
Ksenia Efremova & Adelina Lachinova (LAT) def. Sofie Hettlerova (CZE) & Giulia Popa (ROU) 7-6(2) 5-7 10-8
Elsewhere on the Tennis Europe Junior Tour last week:
- Both first seeds Matei Todoran (ROU) and Lana Virc (SRB) won the Category 2 event in Veli Losinj (CRO)
- Stan Put (NED) was champion in Singles and Doubles at the Category 3 tournament in Iraklio (GRE)
- Aikaterini Oustampasidou (GRE) claimed victory on home soil in Iraklio
- Bekir Devran Esendagli (TUR) and Ekaterina Dotchenko won the 12 & Under Soul Cup in Istanbul (TUR)
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