Hosts Great Britain (girls) and Slovakia (boys) have captured this year’s 12&U Winter Cups by Dunlop titles, Europe’s biggest indoor team tennis event. 2024 has seen the welcome return of the 12&U Winter Cups, with the event last held in 2020 for this age group. This year was also special in that it marked the 10th edition of the event as well as the first time that both the boys’ and girls’ Final Rounds were played at the same venue
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HEADLINES
- Having won their qualifying zones, both boys’ and girls’ teams from eternal favourites Czechia were taken out at the first stage of the final rounds, by Austria and Great Britain respectively
- Of the 4 teams in the finals, the Slovakian boys’ team were the only squad to get through the qualifying rounds undefeated
- Great Britain fell to Croatia in round 2 in Zone C qualifying, however by virtue of their status as host nation, they advanced to the final rounds*
- With the hosts and Ukraine qualifying for the girls’ final, the trophy was guaranteed to remain in the hands of one of only 4 nations to have ever won the girls’ event, namely Great Britain, Russia, Ukraine and Czechia
- In contrast, the boys’ decider saw first-time finalists Austria and Slovakia fight it out for bragging rights
GIRLS’ FINAL
Great Britain def Ukraine 2–1
Ukraine’s Road to the Final
Zone B Qualifying Rounds: R1 def Moldova 2-1; R2 def Belgium 3-0; Qualifying final: lost to Czechia 1-2
Final Rounds: QF def Romania 3-0; SF def Estonia 2-1
Great Britain’s Road to the Final
Zone C Qualifying Rounds: R1 def Netherlands 3-0; R2 lost to Croatia 1-2*
Final Rounds: QF def Czechia 2-1; SF def Slovakia 2-1
The final was played between the ‘defending champions’ and hosts Great Britain, who won the last edition back in 2020, and the 2015 champs Ukraine. Naina Kapoor, having lost her singles in the preceding rounds, found her form and put the hosts ahead with a gritty 7-6(5) 7-5 win over Anna Kuznetsova. However, Mariia Kocherzhenko wasted no time putting Ukraine back in contention with a 6-2 6-4 win over Dasha Jones. So down to a live doubles decider it was, with the two Ukrainians returning to court to face Sophia Cuninghame who teamed with Jones for Team GB. In a thrilling contest that went down to the wire, it was the local team that kept the trophy on British soil with a 10-6 win in the championship tiebreak.
After the match team coach Luke Milligan was extremely proud of his team. “From a GB perspective, the girls this week have been amazing. With events like this, it often comes down to the doubles and our girls have been amazing in doubles this week. We’ve had a really good balance of the matches being super competitive but also played in great spirits, which is exactly what you want out of the event.”
BOYS’ FINAL
Slovakia def Austria 2-1
Austria’s Road to the Final
Zone C Qualifying Rounds: R1 def Slovenia 3-0; R2 def Portugal 3-0; Qualifying final: lost to Netherlands 1-2
Final Rounds: QF def Czechia 2-1; SF def Switzerland 2-1
Slovakia’s Road to the Final
Zone D Qualifying Rounds: R1 def Italy 2-1; R2 def Georgia 3-0; Qualifying Final def Great Britain 2-1
Final Rounds: QF def Poland 3-0; SF def Finland 3-0
Matteo Sanson got Slovakia off to a strong start with a confident 6-2 6-1 win over Lionel Friessnegg, for his third straight set win in Sunderland and sixth win overall in this competition, ending his Winter Cups campaign undefeated in singles. Luca Sageder put the Austrians back on even terms with a tough 7-5 7-5 win over Martin Adamca to set up another live doubles in Sunderland. Adamca and Sanson were back on court, where they posted a 6-3 6-2 win over Sageder and Fabian Leitner to clinch the victory for the Slovaks, who were elated after their victory. “I feel very good. I played my best tennis in the final and we played the doubles very well. It was a great experience for us,” stated Sanson, while Adamca added “I also played very well in the final and I played best in the doubles. I feel great!”
WINTER CUPS: BACK WITH A VENGEANCE
Europe’s biggest indoor team tennis event has come back strong this year, with all three age groups now in action. With Over 500 players, representing 183 national teams played at 15 venues, it was the 12&U players who kicked off the fortnight of Final Rounds. (The 14&U and 16&U finals get under way next weekend.)
All in all, it was a successful return to competition at the 12&U Winter Cups by Dunlop. The boys’ final rounds had previously been held at various venues in Czechia, while the girls’ final rounds were first held in Sheffield and, since 2015, in Sunderland, near Newcastle.
At the opening ceremony the Mayor of Sunderland, Dorothy Truman, helped kick off proceedings welcoming the 16 teams. “Some of the biggest names in the world including Andy Murray, Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer, Martina Hingis and Emma Raducanu all competed in Tennis Europe events as juniors.” She went on to apologise for the constant rain, but nevertheless said she was “honoured and proud to welcome you all on behalf of our city, our region and our country and great - indoor - facilities at the Silksworth Community Pool, Tennis & Wellness Centre.”
The venue expanded from its original four to eight indoor courts, thus easily being able to accommodate a joint boys’ and girls’ final rounds. In addition, players and coaches attended a session of the Tennis Europe Junior School at the end of Day 1, where Tennis Europe staff gave the 12&U players a talk followed by a quiz about the Tennis Family and Social Media.
Thank you to the LTA and to the host venue for putting on a successful return to the event, as well as to all the staff and volunteers involved. Finally, congratulations to all 16 teams for making the final rounds:
FINAL STANDINGS:
GIRLS:
- Great Britain
- Ukraine
- Slovakia
- Estonia
- Czechia
- Romania
- Bulgaria
- Switzerland
BOYS:
- Slovakia
- Austria
- Switzerland
- Finland
- Great Britain
- Netherlands
- Czechia
- Poland