Klosters
Day four in Klosters saw the surprise losses of the number one seeds as Jaume Munar and Jelena Ostapenko both bowed out of the European 18 & Under Championships in the round of 16.
For the third time in four days, the weather conditions demanded a lot of patience and flexibility from all the players as well as from the organizers. Two long interruptions were the consequence of further persistent rainfall. It took the last Swiss hope in singles action, Jil Teichmann eight hours from the first point until she sealed her 6-7 (5) 6-3 6-1 victory against Julia Grabher from Austria.
The two main favourites didn’t handle the difficult conditions as well as they had wished. Spaniard Munar won the second set against gifted lefthander Corentin Denolly but lost the two other sets 1-6. The Frenchman continues his great streak, which already took him to titles in the Netherlands and in Austria this month.
Reigning Wimbledon champion Jelena Ostapenko (pictured) was taken out by Tamara Zidansek. The 16-year-old from Slovenia had to go the distance in both previous matches but came atop the Latvian 6-1 7-6(4). Zidansek convinced with great movement and a strong all-round game, with the forehand being a major weapon.
In today’s quarterfinals, France fields most players, taking a combined four spots out of the total of 16. Spain (three) and Russia (two) are the only other nations with multiple medal hopes, seven nations have one player left, Switzerland, Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania, Slovenia and Sweden. | Facebook
Moscow
At the 16 & Under Championships in Moscow, a trio of Hungarians ended the hopes of home players. Boys’ top seed Mate Valkusz had to fight hard but overcame the challenge of Alexander Ovcharov 4-6 7-5 6-3, while girls’ seeds Fanny Stollar and Dalma Galfi ended the runs of Aleksandra Pospelova and Daria Kruzhkova respectively.
There was a re-match of the 2012 14 & Under final, as Mikael Ymer of Sweden once again beat Norway’s Casper Ruud to advance to the quarterfinals, where he will play current Race to Masters leader Bojan Jankulovski (MKD). Reigning 14 & Under champion Corentin Moutet of France also advanced, and next plays Foligno winner Riccardo Balzerani of Italy.
Unseeded girls Petia Arshinkova (BUL) and Ylena In-Albon (SUI) continued their impressive runs by beating Georgina Axon (GBR) and Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) respectively, and will face-off on Friday for a place in the semifinals.
Pilsen
In a relatively surprise-free day at the 14 & Under Championships in Pilsen, all four of the boys’ top four seeds and the top three girls’ seeds won in straight sets.
Britain’s Jake Hersey provided the main upset in the boys’ event with a 6-4 6-2 win over tenth seed Karlo Suevich (CRO), while Leonid Sheyngezikht of Bulgaria came back from the 1-6 loss of the first set to oust his second seed of the tournament, #9 Daniel Michalski (POL).
Kataryna Zavatska of Ukraine outlasted fifth seed Anda Karanusic (CRO) 2-6 6-3 7-5 to advance, and next plays the only unseeded quarterfinalist, Karolina Tilander of Sweden.
Singles quarterfinals and doubles semifinals are set to be played on Friday.