Spain have won the 14&U boys’ Copa del Sol, beating Great Britain 2-0 in today’s final at home in Valencia. Meanwhile in Loano (ITA), Czechia won their fifth Europa Cup in a 2-1 win over Austria, clinching the title in a nail-biting doubles championship tiebreak.
It was Spain’s sixth title overall adding to their wins in 2017, 2015, 2012, 2002 and 1991. The Brits, for their part, were making only their second appearance in a final - the first was when they took the title back in 1995. Despite today’s loss, it has been a great year for Team GB who also finished as runner-up at the Winter Cups.
The Czech girls add to the four titles they previously won at this event in 2022, 2018, 2013 and 1999 as well as a further five when including the wins as part of Czechoslovakia in 1993, 1992, 1990, 1989 and 1987. On a roll this year, the Czechs collect another team trophy to go with the Winter Cups title they won back in February. Going into the ITF World Junior Tennis Final in August, they look to be strong contenders for the title, where they will be competing on home soil. (More on that below.)
Copa de Sol: Boys’ Final
Spain def. Great Britain 2-0
Spain’s road to the title:
Qualifying Rounds
R1: def. Belgium 3-0
R2: def. Poland 2-1
Final: def Great Britain 2-1
Final Rounds
QF: def. Greece 3-0
SF: def. France 2-1
Coming into the Summer Cups, the British looked to be the hot favourites on paper. Eric Lorimer, European #1 and Race to Monte-Carlo leader, had just posted a resounding Category 1 win in London, albeit on Grass, a couple of weeks prior. Also in London, Niall Pickerd-Barua was part of the winning doubles combo that took the title, while Scott Watson was a semi-finalist. The three players also rank in the top 4 of the Race to Monte-Carlo.
However, a Spanish team on clay, especially on home soil, can never be underestimated. In the qualifying rounds, the locals got the better of the Brits in the qualifying final with a 2-1, with Izan Bañares upsetting Lorimer to swing the momentum in favour of the locals before they powered on to win the deciding doubles in convincing fashion.
The two teams met again in the grand finale. Lorimer did not play and, in what was a tussle in the first rubber, Toni Escarda Piñeiro got the better of Watson in just under two hours, putting the locals ahead with a 6-3 3-6 6-3 win. Twelfth-ranked Bañares then sealed the deal for Spain with an inspired 6-3 6-2 victory over Pickerd-Barua.
Europa Cup: Girls’ Final
Czechia def. Austria 2-1
Czechia’s road to the title:
Qualifying Rounds
R1: def. Slovenia 3-0
R2: def. Poland 3-0
Final: def. Slovakia 2-0
Final Rounds
QF: def. Great Britain 2-1
SF: def. Ukraine 3-0
Austria got off to a strong start, stunning the Czechs when 46th-ranked Anna Pircher scored a shock 6-2 6-2 win over Katerina Zajickova, number 10 in the rankings.
Undefeated in both qualifying and final rounds, European #1 and Race to Monte-Carlo leader Jana Kovackova was the linchpin of the Czech team. She more than lived up to her ranking today by getting the Czechs back onto an even keel, methodically dispatching of Lea Haider-Maurer 6-0 6-1 in 47 minutes.
Into a deciding doubles it went, and by the slimmest of margins the Czechs pipped the Austrians to the post. Although the Austrians held their own, the steady hands of Kovackova caressed an exquisitely angled cross-court backhand winner on match point to give the Czechs a 6-3 2-6 10-6 win, as well as their second title in three years.
Final standings and ITF Finals Qualification
The Summer Cups tournament also serves as European qualifying for the ITF World Junior Tennis Finals in Prostejov (CZE) in August. Hosts Czechia as well as the top 5 teams (in bold) qualify for the event.
Boys Final Standings:
- Spain
- Great Britain
- France
- Netherlands
- Czechia
- Greece
- Romania
- Slovakia
Girls Final Standings:
- Czechia
- Austria
- Germany
- Ukraine
- Great Britain
- Slovakia
- Romania
- Italy
For complete results, photos and more, click here.