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/

Ukraine (girls) and Slovakia (boys) have both created European tennis history by winning their nations’ first ever 16&U Winter Cups by Dunlop titles.

Both finals were played in France, with the Slovakian boys’ victory played out in the city of Lille, while in Brest the Ukrainian girls completed a successful weekend for their nation following their compatriots’ triumph in the 14&U girls’ final yesterday. 

• The yellow and blue team beat Hungary 3-0 in the final to maintain a perfect 9-0 win-loss in all matches in the girls’ final rounds. 
• As mentioned, it is Ukraine’s first title at this event and their previous best result was as runners-up in 2009.
• Meanwhile, Slovakia beat Czechia 2-0 in the boys’ final.
• It was also Slovakia’s first-ever appearance in a final at this event.
   

BOYS’ FINAL

Slovakia defeated Czechia 2-0

Slovakia’s Road to the Final
Zone D Qualifying Rounds: R1 def Georgia 3-0; R2 def Sweden 3-0; Qualifying Final: def Germany 2-1
Final Rounds: QF def Serbia 2-0; SF def France 2-1; F def Czechia 2-0 

Czechia’s Road to the Final
Zone B Qualifying Rounds: R1 def Great Britain 2-1; R2 def Estonia 2-1; Qualifying Final def Ukraine 2-0
Final Rounds: QF def Türkiye 2-1; SF def Germany 2-1; F lost to Slovakia 0-2

After pipping an arguably higher-fancied French team to the post in the semis in a thrilling doubles decider yesterday, the Slovaks relied only on their singles win today. Dominic Macej staged a remarkable comeback after a rough start, recovering after losing the first set to edge out Tomas Krejci 0-6 6-2 7-6 in a tense encounter. Meanwhile, 27th-ranked Leon Sloboda, the highest-ranked player among the four in action, showcased his dominance with a 6-2 6-2 win over Jakub Kusy.

GIRLS’ FINAL

Ukraine def Hungary 3-0

Ukraine’s Road to the Final
Zone B Qualifying Rounds: R1 def Norway 2-1; R2 def Germany 2-1; Qualifying Final def Belgium 3-0
Final Rounds: QF def France 3-0; SF def Austria 3-0; F def Hungary 3-0

Hungary’s Road to the Final
Zone D Qualifying Rounds: R1 def Slovakia 2-1; R2 def Bulgaria 2-1; Qualifying Final lost to Great Britain 1-2
Final Rounds: QF def Czechia 2-1; SF def Poland 2-1; F lost to Ukraine 0-3

In the first match Sofia Kryvoruchko beat Luca Kalman 6-2 6-3. As for Polina Skliar, she faced a tougher test against Greta Nemcsek, dominating the opening set before Nemcsek fought back to level the match. In a tense deciding set, Skliar held her nerve to claim a 6-1 4-6 6-4 win. Determined to keep a clean sheet, Skliar return on the court with Irma Chukhlich for the doubles. Facing Kalman and Lujza Beviz, the Ukrainian pair had an intense opening set before their opponents forced a deciding match tiebreak. In a dramatic finish, Skliar and Chukhlich claimed a 5-4(3) 0-4 10-8 victory to join the celebration of their 14&U compatriots, who won their Winter Cups title yesterday.

And so, the 2025 edition of the Tennis Europe Winter Cups comes to an end. Since its launch in 1977, the competition has grown into the premier indoor junior team event, offering young players a unique opportunity to compete with their teams during the winter months. This year, 185 national teams took part across the three age categories - 12, 14 and 16 & Under.

FINAL STANDINGS

BOYS

1. Slovakia
2. Czechia
3. France
4. Germany
5. Turkiye
6. Ukraine
7. Italy
8. Serbia

GIRLS

1. Ukraine
2. Hungary
3. Poland
4. Austria
5. Great Britain
6. Czechia
7. France 
8. Belgium

Defending champions France (boys) as well as Ukraine (girls) have won this year’s 14&U Winter Cups by Dunlop titles. In Niedezer (GER), The French defeated Czechia in the final and in Rakovnik (CZE) the Czechs went down on home soil to Ukraine.

 

• This is the 9th win for team France, who have also been seven-time runners up
• France is the first nation to defend their title since their compatriots won two in a row in 2010-2011
• It was a welcome return to the final for the Czech boys, whose last appearance in a final was as runners-up in 2016
• For the girls, it was Ukraine’s first finals appearance sing winning back-to-back titles in 2016-17
• It was Ukraine’s third final and third win overall in this competition
• Czechia have now played in the last 6 finals in a row
   

BOYS’ FINAL

France defeated Czechia 2-0

France’s Road to the Final

Zone A Qualifying Rounds:
R1 def Luxembourg 3-0; R2 def Belgium 2-1; Qualifying Final: def Germany 3-0
Final Rounds:
QF def Turkiye 3-0; SF def Netherlands 3-0; F def Czechia 2-0

Czechia’s Road to the Final

Zone D Qualifying Rounds:
R1 def Estonia 2-1; R2 def Great Britain 3-0; Qualifying Final def Turkiye 2-1
Final Rounds:
QF def Poland 3-0; SF def Germany 2-1

Evan Giurescu, undefeated in both qualifying and final rounds, put France up 1-0 with a 6-4 6-4 win over Ondrej Kacin. The French team boasts the Les Petits As Champ Mario Vukovic in their team. The current Race leader also went undefeated in singles for the entire event took that good form into the final where he was too strong for Tobias Zapsky, taking the match and fittingly sealing the title for Team France with 6-3 6-2 win.

GIRLS’ FINAL

Ukraine def Czechia 2-1

Ukraine’s Road to the Final

Zone B Qualifying Rounds:
R1 def Estonia 3-0; R2 def Lithuania 3-0; Qualifying Final def Turkiye 2-1
Final Rounds:
QF def Israel 3-0; SF def Slovakia 3-0; F def Czechia 2-1

Czechia’s Road to the Final

Zone A Qualifying Rounds:
R1 def Portugal 3-0; R2 def Spain 2-1; Qualifying Final def Israel 3-0
Final Rounds:
QF def Serbia 3-0; SF def Great Britain 3-0; 

Sixth-ranked Violetta Skryp won a hard-fough match 7-6(5) 4-6 6-2 over Eva Halfarova to put the Ukrainians ahead. Number nine on the Junior Tour rankings Sofie Mottlova then sent the final into a live doubles rubber with a 7-6(2) 6-2 win against third-ranked Sofiia Bielinska. The two Ukrainians returned to the court to face Mottlova and Anna Jancarikova. In a tight, tense match that went to the wire and into the late hours, Ukraine prevailed 5-7 6-4 10-8

FINAL STANDINGS

BOYS

1. France
2. Czechia
3. Netherlands
4. Germany
5. Sweden
6. Turkiye
7. Italy
8. Poland

GIRLS

1. Czechia
2. Ukraine
3. Great Britain 
4. Slovakia
5. Switzerland
6. Turkiye
7. Israel
8. Serbia

Hosts Great Britain (boys) and Czechia (girls) have captured this year’s 12&U Winter Cups by Dunlop titles, Europe’s biggest indoor team tennis event. The Brits won the final against Poland, while the Czechs overcame Latvia

This year welcomed the 11th edition of the event, which saw a three-year hiatus from 2021-2023 as well as a welcome return to Sunderland (GBR) last year. In fact, the city is the first to host both the boys’ and girls’ Final Rounds, doing so for the second year running.

HIGHLIGHTS

• It was Team Great Britain’s third appearance in a boys’ final and second victory, with their previous win coming in 2013 with a team consisting of Jack Draper, Jacob Fearnley and George Loffhagen.
• At least one of the winners’ trophies remained in Britain, following the girls’ win on home soil last year. This year it was the turn of the boys to do the locals proud.
• Czechia, playing in their sixth final, notched a 4th win at this event, thus equalling Russia’s record of 6 finals for 4 wins 
• Both Poland and Latvia were first-time finalists

 

BOYS’ FINAL

Great Britain defeated Poland 3-0

Great Britain’s Road to the Final
Zone B Qualifying Rounds:
R1 Bye; R2 lost to Czechia 1-2
Final Rounds:
QF def Romania 3-0; SF def Denmark 3-0; F def Poland 3-0

Poland’s Road to the Final
Zone B Qualifying Rounds:
R1 def Austria 3-0; R2 def Croatia 2-1; Qualifying Final def Czechia 2-1
Final Rounds:
QF def Türkiye 3-0; SF def France 2-1

The hosts imposed themselves early on with Tomas Gabor scoring a swift 6-1 6-3 win over Leon Miarka. Then, Kai Max Hodkinson secured the title for the home team also for the loss of just four games, with a 6-4 6-0 victory against Kajetan Kosonski. In the doubles Gabor & Cameron Rae proved too strong for Miarka & Jakub Sylwestrzak dominating the Poles 6-2 6-0. Having lost in qualifying and advancing to the final rounds by virtue of being the host nation, the Brits had a point to prove. And did they ever, coming through the final rounds undefeated in all matches.

GIRLS’ FINAL

Czechia def Latvia 2-1

Czechia’s Road to the Final
Zone B Qualifying Rounds:
R1 def Moldova 3-0; R2 def Germany 2-1; Qualifying Final def Ukraine 3-0
Final Rounds:
QF def Greece 3-0; SF def Croatia 2-1; F def Latvia 2-1

Latvia’s Road to the Final

Zone C Qualifying Rounds:
R1 def Belgium 2-1; R2 def Poland 2-1; Qualifying Final def Greece 2-1
Final Rounds:
QF def Great Britain 2-1; SF def Finland 2-1

Tereza Vychodilova put the Czechs up 1-0 taking the first rubber 6-4 6-1 against Nikola Kapulina. However, the Latvians were not done for yet, with their number one Tina Jansone getting things back on an even keel with an equally impressive 6-4 6-0 win over Nicole Kurylova. The number ones returned to the court for a live doubles to decide the final. In the end, Kurylova & Sara Spackova defeated Jansone & Heidija Saulite 7-6(3) 6-2 to claim the title for Czechia.

FINAL STANDINGS

BOYS

1. Great Britain
2. Poland
3. France
4. Denmark
5. Romania
6. Türkiye
7. Italy
8. Serbia

GIRLS

1. Czechia
2. Latvia
3. Croatia
4. Finland
5. Greece
6. Austria
7. Great Britain/France TBC*
8. Great Britain/France TBC*

This year’s event looks set to be stronger than ever, with the entire Top 10 boys and girls on the Tennis Europe Junior Tour rankings set to compete on the indoor courts against top juniors from the USA, Asia, Australia, Africa and Latin America, many of whom will be competing in Europe for the first time. 

The week of 20-26 January sees the first Junior Tour ‘Super Category’ tournament of the year, the 43rd ‘Les Petits As – Le Mondial Wilson’, in Tarbes, France.

Long established as arguably the world’s premier 14 & Under event, the tournament features a plethora of famous players among the former participants, including the likes of Rafa Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek and Elina Svitolina.

You can follow live streaming and live scores from this unmissable event on the Junior Tour app (Apple | Android), or at the Les Petits As website. Keep an eye on our Instagram for extra content throughout the week.

Click here for the daily schedule and results.