Two of the biggest stops on the TEJT have culminated in an array of champions being crowned at indoor Category One tournaments this weekend in France. TIM Essonne, held on the outskirts of Paris and now in its 39th year, saw Rafael Pagonis (GRE) and Grace Bernstein (SWE) win this year’s titles. To the east, in Brittany, Jakub Kyncl (CZE) and Tina Jansone (LAT) were the champions in Auray, an event one year younger than its 14&U counterpart.
TIM ESSONNE
14&U Category 1 | Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois (FRA)
It was a sweet sixteenth Junior Tour singles title for top seed Rafael Pagonis who, cruised to the final, brushing aside all his opponents in straight sets and never losing more than 5 games per match, often fewer. Second seeded Moritz Freitag (AUT) put up more of a fight, and managed to earn himself a 5-2 lead in the second set. Nonetheless, the Greek player fought back to force a second-set tiebreak and Pagonis would not be denied as he triumphed 6-2 7-6(1). The #3 ranked player has posted arguably his biggest tour win by taking the famed title here in France and will leap up the Race to Monte Carlo Rankings update on Tuesday from his current position of #106.
After the final Pagonis told us, “I feel very happy because I wanted to win an important tournament. It was a tough match and I tried to stay focused on my game especially in the second set. I gave all my energy and at 2-5 I decided to play more aggressively because I didn't want to play a third set! Moritz played very well and it was a great final! The organization of this tournament is amazing, and I am glad I came here to compete this year.”
Another Greek, top seed Konstantina Volonaki, fell at the first hurdle to qualifier Elisa Pieri (ITA), who made it to the quarterfinals before falling to the eventual champion Bernstein. The Swede had been in scintillating form in the latter stages of the tournament and carried that through to the final. For the loss of just four games, she dismantled the game of Hannelore Daniels (BEL) in a 6-4 6-0 final. Bernstein also won the doubles title for good measure, also having faced Daniels in that encounter. It is Bernstein’s fifth singles win on tour and she will now, along with many other players, travel to Stockholm to play in her home TEJT major at the Super Category tournament in Stockholm.
Boys’ Doubles Final:
Vencel Fazekas (HUN) & Akhmadi Makhanov (KAZ) def. Rune Hosten (BEL) & Francisco Sardinha (POR) 6-1 6-3
Girls’ Doubles Final:
Grace Bernstein & Milica Sakamoto (GBR) def. Hannelore Daniels (BEL) & Ella Van Gestel (BEL) 7-5 6-2
OPEN SUPER 12 AURAY
12&U Category 1 | Auray (FRA)
This event has gone from strength to strength over recent years and has positioned itself as one of the world’s premier 12&U events. Players from as far afield as Kazakhstan, Canada, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Malaysia and China travelled to Auray this year, a further testament to the reputation and stature of this tournament.
- In the boys’ final, Jakub Kyncl (CZE) scored a clinical 6-4 6-1 win over Kai Max Hodkinson (GBR). It was the Czech’s first ever Junior Tour singles final appearance.
- Latvia’s Tina Jansone won the girls’ singles title 6-1 7-5 in a face-off against her doubles partner Ana Marija Rebic (CRO).
- The two girls had earlier capped off a fruitful week in Auray by taking the doubles title. They combined to defeat Nicole Kurylova (CZE) & Lyubov Pronenko 6-0 7-6(2) in the decider.
- The Canadian pairing of Vlad Lupu & Aidan Xue won a tight final against locals Thiago Carmasol & Clement Grammare 6-3 2-6 10-6.
Both events are important stepping stones for our future junior stars and are an integral part of the Junior Tour. Along with a growth in local support, sponsorship and social media presence, these tournaments have grown in leaps and bounds over the years. Furthermore, their combined honour rolls read like a who’s who of pro players. Just some of the former champions at TIM Essonne include Linda Noskova (2018), Qinwen Zheng (2016), Marketa Vondrousova (2013), Corentin Moutet (2013) and Andrey Rublev (2011). Auray can count Anastasia Potapova (2013), Felix Auger Aliassime (2012), Andy Murray (1999) and Rafa Nadal (1998) as big-name who once graced their courts and held aloft the champion’s trophy.
ELSEWHERE ON THE #TEJT
- Top seed and sixth-ranked Max Lorincik (SLO) was upset in the final by Yehor Romaniuta (UKR) at the 14&U Cat.2 tournament in Bucharest, Romania. Local Eva Maria Bulai was the girls’ winner.
- Naina Kapur (GBR) and Melker Andersson (SWE) won their first singles titles of the year at the 14&U Cat.3 Svedala Open in Sweden.
- Mark Pavic (SLO) won his second Junior Tour title, and first at the 14&U level at the Cat.3 event in Bad Waltersdorf in Austria. The girls’ champion was Beata Marasova (CZE) who also claimed her maiden title of the season and third overall on tour. Alexander Groet (SUI) and Emse Serkedi (HUN) were the 16&U winners at this combined event, taking their second and third tour titles respectively.
For all of this week’s tournaments and winners, click here.
Already underway is the next big stop on tour in Stockholm for the next 14&U Super Category tournament Kungens Kanna & Drottningen Pris. The tournament’s beginnings can be traced back all the way to 1901. The 2024 champions were Andrei Radu (ROU) and Jana Kovackova (CZE).
Stay up to date with this event throughout the coming week on social media at:
https://www.instagram.com/tenniseuropejuniortour/?hl=en and https://www.instagram.com/kungenskannadrottningenspris/
Or via the tournament website: https://www.kungenskanna.com/