The first Category 1 event of the year is now underway, check the Tennis Europe app for live scores or click here.

Tea Kovacevic has taken the Tennis Europe Junior Tour by storm over the past three years. Ever since her debut in the 12&U Category in 2022, her star has risen as rapidly as she has amassed the 50-plus titles to her name.

The Bosnian’s cabinet is overflowing with trophies and medals, some of which include the European Junior Championships, Junior Masters, Development Championships, and a plethora of Category 1 victories.  The numbers speak for themselves. Here's our chat with the current European 16&U #8 and last year’s Player of the Year. 

How did you get your start in tennis?
Well, when I was nine months old, I started to walk and my dad put a racket in my hand and let me walk through this tennis court we had behind our house. There's a video online about it and then after six or seven months my dad wanted me to, at one-and-a-half years old, roll the balls a bit and swing with the racquet. So I started some practice for tennis but then at four, I started to practice two times a day for the entire week. And then it just kept going like that. Sometimes three practices during the day. So, the schedule was always a bit tough, but maybe that's why I'm here.

Okay, so I guess you played a lot of junior tournaments in Bosnia and then moved around Europe?
Yes, a lot…  a lot!! My first-ever tournament was in Croatia. I was playing Under 8 in Bosnia and in Croatia. I was also first in Croatia Under 10 and Under 12. I started to move across Europe to play Tennis Europe Under 12s. I got into the 12&U Festival when I was 11 - I got a wild card. That was my first ever big international tournament and then the year after the Festival I started, I won some 12&U Cat.1s.

What's your home city?
Gradiška, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the north bordering Croatia.

Where do you mainly base yourself? Do you go back home to train in Bosnia or Do you move around a little bit or are you based in another country?
Well, this year was pretty complicated to practice at home with all the tournaments. I was home for only one-and-a-half months of the entire year. I was practicing with a lot of kids from the tournament and sometimes when I finish the tournament earlier, I go to the academies that I'm in and practice with people there. Sometimes I go to Belgrade to practice. So, I focused on travelling around and moving around.

You've moved into 14&U and you're winning most of your matches in 16&U as well, and it all happened rather fast.
When I moved to Under 14s, I started to play Under 16s also. I was with the Touring Team last year as well. So, this year I just kept going. I thought ‘why not let's try a bit of 16s’ and I won three Cat.3s so then I moved to Cat.1. I didn't tell myself,  ‘okay you have to win this’ so it was more like ‘okay you have to compare yourself to the older players because if you want to move to professional tennis you have to get used to that’ so I told myself to try that as a challenge. I had beautiful performances in the Cat.1s and it is just an amazing feeling when you win a tournament that big. And yeah, so that's basically how I got into the 16s.

As the 14&U European Junior Champion, were you looking forward to being invited to Monte Carlo? 
Yes, but I was trying to play Under 16 no matter if I got in as Under 14! (smiles)

When you go from 14 to 16, what differences do you see?
Great question and actually I've talked to my dad about it a lot when I play. Under older categories I usually focus on myself because there are older players who hit bigger and they're just stronger, they're taller and more athletic so I told myself that every time I'm playing older girls I try to play my best no matter what happens. I'm gonna try to hit the ball in the court, don't let them attack me. When I play ITFs I'm even better than under 16…  I play even better and it's maybe just because of the age if I see the older players I tell myself, ‘Okay let's make myself proud let's make my dad proud, I can do it, they're not that much better’, you know, so that's my mentality when I play under older categories.

How do you combine your education and going to school, these classes, with traveling and tennis?
Right now I do online school. I'm homeschooled. So, when I am at the tournaments, my teachers basically give me something I have to learn, then they give me tests, and then I do the tests when I'm at tournaments or when I'm at home. 

Between matches, it must be not that fun. If you want to talk or hang out with your friends, then you need to tell them “I've got to go study”!
(laughs) So it can be complicated sometimes, yes, but my school is really supportive.

Okay! And just thinking about favorites, in the tennis world, do you have a couple of favorite players, male or female, that you look up to even now?
Professionally, my personal favorite from men's is Novak Djokovic. and from women's it has always been Osaka. I really like her … everything, I mean. But if I look at who's the best now, definitely Sabalenka. I'm a big fan, big fan. And (Mirra) Andreeva … very surprising - she's just amazing! I would love to go as quickly as her into pro tennis. I’m really, really, really happy for her and her results and hope one day I can be like her! 

Coming from a small country, you're in the press and people hear about you. Do you feel that pressure and that expectation?
Yeah, when I look at my federation and when I'm looking at people who are supporting me back home, yes there can be pressure sometimes like for example the European Junior Championships.  When I see the Federation and people from Bosnia who support me, who are my sponsors there, I can sometimes feel pressure if it's an important tournament and you have to get results to keep the sponsors up. When I play big tournaments, I feel very, very much a lot of pressure, especially at the EJCs because it's the biggest tournament Under 14 in Europe or one of the best tournaments in the world. I was the second seed, so you know, if you lose before, like the semis or something, it can be like, “oh my God!” But, you know, the pressure can't keep me away from those results. I have to deal with it, I have to get used to it… always. So I'm going to try to do that!! 

As for the Junior Tour, can you think of any tournaments that are your favorites, for whatever reason the reason may be?
My personal favourite Tennis Europe 14&Us are definitely going to be the Cat.1s, like in Germany, Renningen, that I won. But because of the hotel, the club, everything basically over there, it was just perfectly organised. And the kids over there, it was a nice level of tennis. My team was there and I really enjoyed myself … and at the Super Category in Düren as well. My personal favorites in the 16&Us were in Tolentino Cat.1 in Italy and Sarajevo Cat.1 as well, all because of the organization and the people. Just beautiful.

Looking ahead are there any tournaments on the professional circuit where you would love to play?
Wimbledon was always my favorite. I wish I had been invited to under 14s but I guess, yeah I guess we're going to move on to under 18s and the professionals now (smiles) …  but yeah, Wimbledon was always my favorite!

What are your career goals?
Top three WTA and, if I can, my top goal is to win a calendar Slam!

That's a good goal to have!! You play a lot of doubles, do you have a preference?
You know, I think I might be better in doubles, honestly. But yeah, I’m there for singles and doubles!  A lot of times they hit at me and sometimes it happens that I don't even try to but I get the ball back somehow! (laughs) 

Have you played any mixed doubles? 
Once in my entire life! I played Big Mo last year in December in Miami. I was playing mixed doubles with one 2009 guy from Luxembourg, Evan Palumbo. And we won the doubles there under 14, without losing a single game in the entire tournament.

That's impressive! As was your 2024 season on the TEJT … congratulations on an amazing season!
Thank you!

*Parts of this interview took place, at the 14&U EJCs in Most. Kovacevic went on to win the title, defeating Jana Kovackova in the final. She then went on to claim the girls’ 16&U Junior Masters title in Monte Carlo. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Tennis Europe (@tenniseuropejuniortour)

Wrapping up the 2024 season, it’s time to celebrate the achievements of the Tennis Europe Junior Tour Players of the Year. Eight awards have been given across different categories:

 

• 4 Players of the Year (the top-ranked boys and girls aged 14&U and 16&U after the final Race to Monte-Carlo update of the season)
• 1 Doubles Team of the Year
• 1 National Team
• 2 Overseas Players of the Year (1 boy and 1 girl from non-European countries)

Previous recipients of the award include former world #1s Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek as well as the now retired stars such as Andy Murray and Kim Clijsters.

GIRLS’ 14 & UNDER: JANA KOVACKOVA (CZE)

2024 W/L: 33/3 (91.6%)

Kovackova had another amazing year on tour and is the girls’ 14&U Player of the Year for a second year in succession. Although she played slightly fewer events than in 2023, she improved on her already impressive 2023 win/loss percentage and was an integral part of the Czech 14&U national team’s Winter and Summer Cups wins.

Tournament wins:

• XXX Taça International, Maia (Super Category)
• Kungens Kanna & Drottningens Pris, Stockholm (Super Category)
• She also won the 16&U event 22nd “Joan Mir” Tournament, Torelló (Category 1)

Finalist:

• 2023 European Junior Championships

 

BOYS’ 14 & UNDER: SCOTT WATSON (GBR)

2024 W/L: 38/12 (76%)

Watson’s year really picked up in the spring and into the summer, as he some deep runs during that time while also helping lead Team GB to their first Summer Cups final since 1995.  He capped of the season brilliantly with a win at the year-end event in Monte-Carlo.

Tournament wins:

• Tennis Europe Junior Masters, Monte-Carlo
• Dr Oetker Junior Trophy, Bucharest (Category 1)

Finalist:

• European Junior Championships, Most

GIRLS’ 16 & UNDER: TEA KOVACEVIC (BIH)

2024 W/L: 88/9 (90.7%)

Kovacevic dominated the 16&U Tour and also won five 14&U events including the European Junior Championships. She qualified for Monte-Carlo in both age groups, electing to play in the more senior. Keep an eye out for her 'In the Spotlight' interview coming in the new year. 

16&U Tournament wins:

• Tennis Europe Junior Masters, Monte-Carlo
• Bohdan Tomaszewski Cup, Warsaw (Category 1)
• Open RCT Barcelona 1899, Sarajevo (Category 1)
• Torneo U16, Tolentino (Category 1)
• Yason Cup, Novi Sad (Category 2)
• Rio Verde Cup, Podgorica (Category 3)

16&U Finalist:

• Torneo U16, Milan (Category 2)
• Pecin Memorial, Pancevo (Category 2)

BOYS’ 16 & UNDER: GONÇALO DA ROSA CASTRO (POR)

2024 38/13 (74.5%)

Da Rosa Castro was dominant in the Race for much of the season: he remained in the top 2 for a staggering 27 consecutive weeks and was at number 1 for 19 weeks in total. He appeared in this month’s feature interview (click here) and made a run to round 4 at the European Junior Championships as the #4 seed among a stacked field. Despite falling to eventual champion Yannick Alexandrescou in the round robin stage at the Junior Masters, he has ended the year on a high with this award.

Tournament wins:

• Emilio Sanchez Academy Youth Cup, Barcelona (Category 2)
• Torneo U16, Milan (Category 2)

OVERSEAS PLAYER OF THE YEAR (GIRLS) - SAKINO MIYAZAWA (Japan)

Year End Ranking #27

Sakino Miyazawa was a strong presence on the Junior Tour this year, claiming 2 singles and 3 doubles titles in the 14 & Under age group. She concluded the year ranked in the top 30, with an impressive singles win/loss record of 37-6, achieving an 86% success rate. Additionally, Miyazawa secured a trophy in the 16 & Under category at the Category 2 tournament in Nis.

Tournament wins at 14&U Events:

• Antonio Hernández Cup – Barcelona, Spain – Cat.1
• VARITEX Lodz Cup 2024 - Lodz, Poland – Cat. 2

Finalist:

• Open du Stade Français - Marnes La Coquette, France – Cat. 1

OVERSEAS PLAYER OF THE YEAR (BOYS) - ANSAR NIYETKALIYEV (KAZ)

Year End Ranking #41

Ansar Niyetkaliyev finishes the year as the top-ranked overseas player. He has competed in numerous singles and doubles matches, achieving a singles win rate of 79%.

Tournament wins at 14&U Events:

• Soul Cup - Istanbul, Türkiye  - Cat.2
• Ankara Cup - Ankara, Türkiye - Cat.3
• Ergan Cup - Erzincan, Türkiye  - Cat. 3

Finalist:

• Junior Bavarian Open 2024 - Augsburg, Germany – Cat. 2
• Amergy Open 2024 - Vienna, Austria – Cat. 3

DOUBLES TEAM OF THE YEAR -  JANA KOVACKOVA & KATERINA ZAJICKOVA (CZE) 

This team began the year on a high note, reaching the finals at the Super Category event in Tarbes—Les Petits As. Shortly after, they claimed the trophy at another Super Category tournament in Stockholm. The pair remained unbeaten in doubles throughout the year, also securing the most prestigious trophy of all—the European Junior Championships.

3 Tournament wins together:

• European Junior Championships, Most
• Kungens Kanna & Drottningens Pris, Stockholm (Super Category)
• XXX Taça International Maia Jovem, Maia (Super Category)

Finalists:

• Les Petits As, Tarbes (Super Category)

NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR - SLOVAKIA 12&U BOYS

2024 marked a historic achievement for Slovakia's 12 & Under Boys' team as they clinched gold in both the Summer and Winter Cups for the first time. Martin Adamca, Matteo Sanson, and Lubos Husenica led their team to impressive victories, contributing to a combined total of 34 wins across both cups. They showed great skill, teamwork, and consistency under pressure, especially in pivotal matches that decided the championship titles.

For more information about the winners, check our social media channels.

Arthur Salafa (FRA) and Elizaveta Anikina (EST) are the winners of the 2024 Carlos Moya 12 & Under Festival, the season-ending invitational event for Europe’s top players of the age group. | Photo Gallery

The Festival, held at the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar in Manacor, Mallorca offered the 64 participants (from 23 nations) a week of high-level tennis competition - broadcast live on tenniseurope.org - combined with engaging off-court activities.

The tournament kicked off with a visit to the Rafa Nadal Museum, where players admired the 22-time Grand Slam champion’s trophies and were thrilled to see his first racquet and even his trophy from 'Les Petits As', a Tennis Europe Junior Tour event. They spent time exploring interactive games and taking lots of photos.

The visit was followed by the Opening Ceremony and a Q&A session with Carlos Moya, who shared his wealth of experience and ofference some valuable advice to the players, "The most important thing to me is to enjoy the journey. You don’t know who will make it to the professional level, so for now, it’s about giving your best—your 100%—every single day, even on the bad days because those are the ones that matter most. If you work hard through those days, you’ll learn to embrace the challenges. Enjoy the process, you’re only 11 or 12 years old. There’s plenty of time before the professional tour. Cherish the moment, the friendships you’re making, and this entire week!”

The off-court schedule also included a Players' Party and a session of the Tennis Europe Junior School. The participants learned about Safeguarding and Media, and were joined by special guest Sandi Procter, President of the LTA and Vice President of Tennis Europe. She talked about her roles in both organizations, her background and her experiences at Wimbledon.

The Finals: Boys’ Singles

Arthur Salafa breezed through the Group Stage with quick wins but faced a tough challenge in the quarterfinals. After losing the first set to Frederick Fabricius, he managed to come back and claim victory in the match tie-break.

Martin Adamca’s most challenging match came in the semifinal against Sweden’s Enzo Brito, who dominated the first set with a 6-2 win. However, the Slovak managed to turn the match around and secure his spot in the final.

The finalists had met once before, at the Winter Cups earlier this year, where Adamca won 6-1 7-5. On this occasion, Salafa evened the head-to-head. He claimed the tightly contested first set 7-6 but faced a challenge as Adamca took a 3-1 lead in the second. However, the French regained his focus and won five of the next six games to seal the championship with a 6-4 victory in the second set.

Girls’ Singles

Both girls’ finalists were making a second appearance at the 12 & Under Festival, and demonstrated that they have gained valuable experience and learned important lessons since last year’s edition. Estonia’s Elizaveta Anikina maintained her dominance, limiting Eva Maria Bulai’s opportunities to take control. Although the match was closer than the scoreline suggested, Anikina excelled in the important moments and ensured the gold medal with a 6-2 6-2 win over her Romanian opponent. This victory marks Anikina’s seventh Tennis Europe title of the year, with five tournament wins in the 12 & Under category and two in the 14 & Under category.

Doubles

The doubles finals were held on Saturday. After an intense semifinal, Martin Adamca returned to the court alongside his compatriot Matteo Sanson. Facing them were the well-rested British duo Frederick Fabricius and Kai Max Hodkinson, who dominated the match with ease. Fabricius and Hodkinson secured the title with a decisive 6-3, 6-0 victory.

As for the girls, Croatia’s Korana Barisic showed great determination. Despite losing a challenging singles semifinal earlier in the day, she regrouped alongside her close friend Ana Marija Rebic. Together, they triumphed against Mariia Kocherzhenko & Anna Kuznetsova of Ukraine 7-6 6-3.

Tennis Europe Vice-President and Junior Committee Chair Sandi Procter commented, “It has been a delight to see first-hand the incredible efforts made by the hosts and organisers here at the Rafa Nadal Academy to ensure an unforgettable experience for the players, both on and off-court. This tournament represents an important milestone in the careers of the young participants; for many of whom this will be their final 12 & Under tournament. Congratulations to all the participants, and on behalf of Tennis Europe, thanks once again to our generous hosts.”

Follow all the action from Monte-Carlo, where the top 14 and 16 & Under players of 2024 face off for one of the most prestigious titles in junior tennis here.