Ukraine (pictured) has won the Reina/Soisbault Cup, the European 18 & Under team event for girls, for the second time in three years, thanks to a 3-0 win over hosts Spain in Lleida. [Photos]
The top seeds got off to a strong start as Kateryna Kozlova conceded just games to 2010 European 16 & Under Champion Silvia Garia Jimenez to take a 1-0 lead. Garbine Muguruza Blanco looked set to level the tie for Spain, reeling off the first six games of the second singles match against Valentyna Ivakhnenko. The Ukrainian levelled with an almost equally one-sided second set, and held on in a tight decide to claim a 0-6 6-1 6-4 victory. Kozlova returned to the court for the doubles with Sophia Kovalets, in which Garcia Jimenez & Pilar Dominguez Lopez were forced to retire after the loss of a first set tie break.
Ukraine lost just one rubber in their three ties during the course of the weekend (a ‘dead’ doubles match against Belgium on the opening day), and also accounted for third seeds the Czech Republic in the semi finals.
Spain had been hoping to win their first title at the event since 2003, but instead fell at the final hurdle for a third consecutive year.
The win for Ukraine brings to a close the Summer Cups events for 2011, a year which has seen six different nations lift the European team trophies. A full list of champions can be found below:
2011 Boys Winners
14 & Under: Romania
16 & Under: Great Britain
18 & Under: Czech Republic
2011 Girls Winners
14 & Under: Russia
16 & Under: Italy
18 & Under: Ukraine