Following his win at the 14 & Under Super Category in Maia, we caught up with Rafael Pagonis (GRE) to learn more about him and his biggest passion - tennis.

Ever since joining the Junior Tour, Pagonis has had impressive results and continues to fight hard to improve his game, trying to follow in the footsteps of his idol, Carlos Alcaraz.

How did you start playing tennis?
I started tennis because of my dad. He put me on the court for the first time when I was two, and I wanted to play tennis again and again and again. I kept asking him to go on the court and play with me. We were playing points, and I always wanted to win.

At what point did you realize you wanted to compete and do it professionally?
At 10 years old, when I won the Greek and national championship. I was also playing basketball and wanted to keep doing both, but I realized I was better at tennis and decided to keep going with that.

Did you start playing tournaments in Greece and then move on to international events?
Yes, I started playing tournaments in Greece when I was six or seven, and then at 10, I started playing Tennis Europe. I was winning, and then I also went to the USA, trying to do my best at every tournament.

When you made the transition from 12 & Under to 14 & Under, what were the biggest differences you felt?
The second set, most of the time, is very different. In 12 & Under, you play the first set, win it, and then in the second set the opponent often quits or thinks he’s already lost. Now in 14 & Under, nobody quits. Everybody wants to win, everybody's fighting.

What has been your favorite Tennis Europe tournament so far?
Tim Essonne, this one in Maia, and probably Tarbes.

And for this year, what else is on your agenda? What do you want to do? Where do you want to go?
I want to go to the next Super Category, reach the semifinals, and try at the European Championship to reach the semifinal, or even the final, and give my best at every tournament.

Do you like representing your country at these kinds of events?
Yes, a lot!

How do you manage to balance sports and education?
When I was 12, I left traditional Greek school to travel the world and play tennis. I try to do online school as much as I can. Between matches, I go back to the hotel, do school, do my homework, and I try to focus mostly on tennis.

Can you describe a day in your life?
I wake up at 7 and go to the gym from 8 to 9, then I play tennis until 10:30. Then I have school from 11 to 1, eat lunch, and at 3 o’clock I go back to the academy. I do some fitness again for about half an hour to an hour, then play tennis for one and a half hours. After practice, I try to do some serves, it’s really important for me to serve well. Then I go home and sleep.

Who's your favorite tennis player and why?
I’d say Carlos Alcaraz. He plays aggressively. He uses the drop shot, I try to do a lot of drop shots like him. He fights, he’s fast. I think we have similar styles. I like trying to play like him.

In terms of Grand Slams, which one do you really want to go to and maybe win?
Australian Open, because it’s like a Greek Grand Slam. Many Greek Australians live there, and the atmosphere is amazing.

Do you have time for other hobbies when you're not playing tennis?
No, not really.

Do you play basketball for fun anymore, or not at all?
Yeah, I do sometimes. For example, tomorrow I’ll go play basketball with my dad.

After winning this tournament, you’re going to get a lot of points and that might help you in the Race to Monte Carlo. Is that something you’d like to do this year, compete there?
Yes, it’s been my goal to go to the Monte Carlo Masters since the beginning of the year because it’s a really important event. And Monte Carlo is Monte Carlo 😊

Thank you so much. Good luck!
Thank you!

Sofia Tatu (GBR) and Rafael Pagonis (GRE) have claimed this year’s titles at the 14 & Under Super Category event in Maia. It was the first Super Category final for both players, and they made sure not to let the opportunity slip away.

Pagonis, who won Tim Essonne in February, didn’t have the best run at the previous Super Category events in Tarbes or Stockholm. This time, however, he maintained a high level throughout the final. Facing Samuel Dakessian, he edged the first set 7-5 but lost control in the second, with the French player pushing back and fighting for every point. In the third set, though, Dakessian couldn’t match Pagonis’s energy. After 1 hour and 50 minutes, Pagonis emerged victorious with a 7-5 3-6 6-1 win.

Even if the score doesn’t fully reflect it, the girls’ final was nearly as intense. In their first-ever encounter, Sofia Tatu and Noemi Nogradi (HUN) displayed a great level of tennis. Tatu led 6-3 5-2 when Nogradi, with nothing to lose, started a fierce comeback, pushing the match to 5-4 and earning multiple break points as Tatu served for the win. The final game lasted over 10 minutes, but Tatu held her nerve, saved the break points, and closed the match 6-3 6-4.

DOUBLES

Pagonis left to Greece with two trophies in his bag – singles and doubles. In the doubles competition, he teamed up with Yurii Stoianov (UKR) and claimed the title after a tough final against one of home’s favourite Francisco Sardinha and Moritz Freitag of Austria 6-7 7-5 10-5.

On the girls’ doubles draw, first seeds Nil Çukurluoglu (TUR) and Sara Sitar (ROU) won the title against the Portugese pair of Carolina Bernardo and Noa Freitas 6-0 6-3.

The Maia Jovem event is a prestigious tournament on the Junior Tour, with today’s stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Lorenzo Musetti having lifted the trophy just a few years ago. Recognised for the excellent work behind the scenes, the tournament directors were recently honoured with the Tennis Europe Tournament Director prize. To learn more about the prize, click here.

Elsewhere on the Junior Tour

• BISTRITA TORPHY, 16&U CAT.2, Bistrita (ROU)
  It was a hard-fought tussle in the boys’ final between two locals, with Paul Ghimbasan (pictured) getting over the line ahead of Tudor Alexandru Preda 7-6 3-6 7-5, while Anna-Sophie Andrei was too strong for Sandra Ciobica 6-1 6-2 in another all-Romanian final
• SIAULIAI TENNIS ACADEMY CUP, 14&U Cat.3, Siauliai (LTU)
  Dane Laurits Oestergaard and Brit Lilia Saad were the boys’ and girls’ champs, with both players to claiming their second title of the season
• PECIN MEMORIJAL, 16&U Cat.2, Pancevo (SRB)
  Race leader Mihailo Topic (SRB), in his second final of the year, nabbed his first win on home soil defeating Race #4 and compatriot Luka Ceramilac in the decider. North Macedonian Sara Mitevska also made it a first win from two finals by taking out Camilla Olga Castracani (ITA) in the girls’ final. 
• LES RAQUETTES, 16&u Cat.3, Thessaloniki (GRE)
  Lydia Panagiotidou (GRE) and Rafael Antonis Gakopoulos (GRE) were crowned champions for their fourth and first TEJT singles titles respectively. The tournament also shared some delightful content over social media over the past week.

For more results, click here. 

New champions have been crowned at the 2025 ITF/Tennis Europe Development Championships, which were hosted for a 14th time by the Turkish Tennis Federation in Antalya.

With 10 teams representing the ITF Development Eligibility ‘Tier 1’ nations in action, Bonia & Herzegovina (4) along with hosts Türkiye (3) were this year’s big winners, walking away with seven titles between them, of the ten on offer.

46th ranked Bosnian Eda Lara Sacirovic won her first ever Junior Tour singles titles, sweeping both the Week 1 and Week 2 14 & Under tournaments. In the boys’ 14&U event, Andrija Martinovic (BIH) was the Week 1 champion, while Marko Aleksovski (MKD) lifted the trophy in Week 2. In the 12&U event, Yigit Uras Yildirim (TUR) and Amajla Kadric (BIH) were the boys’ and girls’ winners respectively.

ITF Development Officer for Europe Vitor Cabral, who oversaw the 12 & Under training camp run during the first week of the Championships commented, “This was a very good edition of the event. A lot of knowledge from previous years contributed to provide the best possible experience for coaches and players. The organisation was impeccable and even the weather was perfect. I am very happy with level of the players which enabled us to complete selection for the ITF/Tennis Europe 14&U Touring Team later this year. Also, from the 12 & Under Training Camp I can say that we will have a great new generation of players for the coming years”

14 & Under Girls

Sacirovic went two weeks without dropping a set and the Bosnian proved to be the event's standout player. Week 1 replicated a 2024 win for team BIH, as Tea Kovacevic was last year’s Week 1 champion. This year, her compatriot defeated Vasilisa Zarecinaia (MDA) 6-2 6-2 in the final. Sacirovic then continued her dominance in the second week with a 6-3 6-3 victory in the final against Maria Azizyan (ARM).

Not to be outdone, Vasilisa Zarecinaia (MDA) & Anastasia-Maria Ciuhrii (MDA) also went unbeaten, winning the doubles event in both weeks.

14 & Under Boys

More trophies came for team BIH in the week one final with Andrija Martinovic (BIH) taking out the top seed, Marko Aleksovski (MKD) 6-2 3-6 7-5 in a riveting final. The North Macedonian made it back-to-back finals, and in his second swing at a title, he outplayed homegrown talent Talha Emin Bulut (TUR), 7-6 6-4 in the final. 

Like the girls, there were repeat winners in the boys' doubles, as Bulut teamed with Bekir Devran Esendagli to ensure home winners both weeks.

12 & Under Event

Yigit Uras Yildirim (TUR) was the winner of the boys’ tournament, defeating Matija Stankovic (MNE) 6-1 4-6 6-1 in the final. In the girls’ draw, Amajla Kadric (BIH) was too strong for Andreea Nour (MDA), posting a 6-0 6-3 final win. Ildar Malai (MDA, boys) and Sahra Temiz (TUR, girls) were the bronze medalists.

Doubles (mixed nations):
Boys’ champions: Luka Jorjadze (GEO) & Yigit Uras Yildirim (TUR)
Girls’ champions: Andreea Nour (MDA) & Lina Redza (KOS)

The smooth collaboration between the International Tennis Federation, Tennis Europe, Turkish Tennis Federation, and the local organizers resulted in a flawless edition of the Development Championships. The 10 teams representing ITF Development Eligibility ‘Tier 1’ nations were Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Moldova and Türkiye.

All eligible nations made full use of the available spots for their players on this occasion, meaning that all 14 & Under teams consisted of 2 boys and 2 girls, and all 12 & Under teams of 1 boy and 1 girl, giving a combined total of 60 players accompanied by 2 or 3 coaches in each case. Of the 26 total coaches accompanying the national teams, 40% of the coaches were female this year. 

Long established as one of Tennis Europe’s flagship development activities, the Championships were devised to provide top-level playing opportunities for the most promising talents from emerging tennis nations in Europe. Former competitors over the years include the likes of Jelena Ostapenko, Aryna Sabalenka, Marcos Baghdatis and Grigor Dimitrov.

For full results from the Championships, please click the links on the right of the page. Click here for pictures.

Ekaterina Dotsenko and Akhmadi Makhanov (KAZ) emerged as champions of this year’s second 14&U Super Category event, the Kungens Kanna & Drottningen Pris in Stockholm (SWE).

Both winners defeated higher-seeded opponents, seeing off Darina Matvejeva (LAT) and Samuel Dakessian (FRA) in the finals of the prestigious tournament, which has origins that can be traced back to 1901.

Matvejeva was wildcard entrant in 2024 and advanced to the quarterfinals. This year, as the top seed she progressed to the final without the loss of a set, as did Dotsenko. The final was the mouth-watering prospect from the outset: re-match of the recent Les Petis As final, a 1-1 head-to-head going in, and Matvejeva keen to avenge for her loss in Tarbes to the Russian. The Latvian started off strongly, claiming the first set 6-2, however it was all Dotsenko from there. The Russian powered back to take the next two sets and her second title of the year, 2-6 6-2 6-1.

A different story was painted in the boys’ draw, which lost its top seed Laurens Drijver (NED) in round two and also saw second seed and last week’s category 1 Tim Essonne champ Rafael Pagonis fall at the quarterfinal stage. The tournament decider pitted first-time finalist in 2025 Dakessian against Makhanov, the runner up in Breclav (Cat.2) in January. The Kazakh took the first set, and after a second set respite for the French boy, Makhanov was too solid taking the match 6-2 6-7(2) 6-3 to claim his first singles title of the season and become the first player from his country to claim a Super Category title on the Tennis Europe Junior Tour.

The “Last 8 Club”

This is a long-established tradition, mirroring the All-England Club in honouring those players to have advanced to the latter stages of the competition. Last year, then 12-year-old Matvejeva joined this elite group, and this year received her second commemorative t-shirt for reaching the last 8 once again. This year's Last 8 club featured: (boys) Luys Calin (GER), Samuel Dakessian (FRA), Lucas Ariel Herrera Sanchez (GER), Mikael Lehtinen (FIN), Yurii Stoliarov (UKR), Edoardo Ghiselli (ITA), Akhmadi Makhanov (KAZ), Rafael Pagonis (GRE), and (girls) Darina Matvejeva (LAT), Lilly Marie Greinert (GER), Grace Bernstein (SWE), Zeliha Nil Çukurluoglu (TUR), Ekaterina Dotsenko, Liv Zingg (GBR), Veronika Troitckaia, Sofiia Bielinska (UKR)

Boys’ Doubles Final
Moritz Freitag (AUT) & Francisco Sardinha (POR) defeated Luys Calins (GER) & Lucas Ariel Herrera Sanchez (GER) 6-3 6-0

Girls’ Doubles Final
Sofie Mottlova (CZE) & Violetta Skryp (UKR) defeated Grace Watson (GBR) & Liv Zingg (GBR) 6-4 6-2

Elsewhere on the TEJT this week:

• Antalya, TUR (14&U Cat.3) | Top-seeded local player Duru Arslan won the singles and doubles to capture her maiden titles in both events this year. The boys’ singles champ was Bexultan Bauyrzhanov (KAZ).
   
• Rotterdam, NED (12&U Cat.2 + 14&U Cat.3) | More Kazakh success came, with victory for Syrymzham Barlykov in the boys’ singles and doubles, while Gaelle Van Hulle (BEL) was the girls’ champ. In the older age group, Kamran Arif (GBR) and Arina Fomina took the titles.
   
• Isernhagen, GER (14&U Cat.3) | Alex Grigoryan and Sofia Drozdenko (see below) won in the singles and doubles, posting a Russian double-double!

For all of this week’s winners, click here. Among next week’s highlights on the Junior Tour are the 14&U ITF/Tennis Europe Development Championships in Antalya (TUR) and the Baseline Open U14 in Banska Bystrica (SVK). Follow us online and on social media for more from the Development Championships and elsewhere in the days to come.

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 west, in Brittany, Jakub Kyncl (CZE) and Tina Jansone (LAT) were the champions in Auray, an event one year younger than

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/