Kaan Isik Kosaner (TUR) dominated this year's Development Championships. The event is devised to provide top-level playing opportunities for the most promising talents from emerging tennis nations in Europe..

This year’s 14 & Under ITF/Tennis Europe Development Championships have drawn to a close in Antalya, Türkiye. The Championships offered players from ‘Tier 1’ nations the opportunity to participate in two consecutive Category 2 events, with their costs fully covered by ITF and Tennis Europe.

Kaan Isik Kosaner (TUR) dominated both tournaments on home soil. He breezed through the first week but had to fight harder during the final. Facing compatriot and doubles partner Mustafa Ege Sik, he secured the championship after an intense three-set victory 7-5 6-7(5) 6-3. With the right boost of confidence, Kosaner continued his wins streak throughout the second week as well. He played the final against Bulgarian Dimitar Topchiyski and won in straight sets, 6-1 6-2. These fresh titles will help Kosaner in his Race to Monte-Carlo, where he’s currently ranked #3.

Boys Doubles:

Week 1 – Kaan Isik Kosaner & Mustafa Ege Sik (TUR) def. Vuk Krstajic & Pavle Vukosaljevic 6-4 4-6 10-3

As for the girls, Zumra Balkan (TUR) didn’t concede a set during the first tournament. First seed and one of home’s favourites, she didn’t let her guard down at any point and won the title following the final against Sara Mitevska (MKD) with a score of 6-2 6-2. Tea Kovacevic (BIH) got her rematch against Balkan in the second semifinal they played. Even if Balkan won the first one easily, 6-4 6-2, Kovacevic came back from one set down and advanced to the week 2 final.  She didn’t have the advantage in the beginning of the final either, but once again she put herself together and won against Lia Belibova (MDA) 2-6 6-2 10-6.

Girls Doubles:

Week 1 – Zumra Balkan & Melis Yildrim (TUR) def. Tea Kovacevic & Eda-Lara Sacirovic (BIH) retired

Alongside the main event, a 12 & Under Training Camp run by ITF coach Goran Shevchenko was held for 10 boys and 10 girls from the same nations. They also had the chance to put into practice their new knowledge at a 12 & Under Junior Tour tournament. Of the 20 players, home representatives Bekir Devran Esendagli (TUR) and Duru Arslan (TUR) were the ones who proudly took home the gold medals.

Also held during the week was a special session of the Junior School, where the eager youngsters learned about the tennis family, periodisation and scheduling.

One of Tennis Europe’s flagship development activities, the Championships were first held in 1996 and are 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, Simona Halep, Marcos Baghdatis and Grigor Dimitrov. This year’s event marked the 12th occasion that the activities have been hosted by the Turkish Tennis Federation.  

For full results from the Championships, please click here (Week 1) and here (Week 2). | 📸 Photo Gallery.

 

The new app brings you closer to the Junior Tour than ever before. Download now!

Tennis Europe has launched a brand new mobile app designed to boost junior tennis around the world. 

Bringing you closer to the action than ever before, the new Junior Tour app will carry live streaming and scoring from many of the Tour’s events. Other features – all free of charge - include the Junior Tour calendar, latest rankings and news. 

Available for iPhone and Android users, the app has been developed with Tennis Europe’s official partner Crionet as part of a long term digital strategy aimed at bringing junior tennis to a wider audience. All Junior Tour event organisers will have the opportunity to boost their visibility through Crionet’s services including live scoring and streaming integrated to the app. 

The Tennis Europe Junior Tour consists of almost 500 events each year for players aged 12, 14 and 16 & Under, staged in almost all of Tennis Europe’s 50 member nations. 20,000 eligible players from around the world were registered to play in 2022.

Almost all of today’s top professional players including 33 former and current world #1s competed on the Junior Tour during their formative years.  

The application can be downloaded here (Apple devices) and here (Android).

Savva Rybkin and Anna Pushkareva have stamped their authority on the #TEJT by winning the prestigious Super Category title in Stockholm. Read more to see what else happened on the TEJT last week... 

Savva Rybkin and Anna Pushkareva have stamped their authority on the #TEJT by winning the prestigious Super Category Kungens Kanna (boys’) and Drotningen Pris (girls’) titles at the Royal tennis Hall in Stockholm, Sweden.

It was the first major title on the tour for Rybkin, while for Pushkareva this is her second major trophy of the season, one she can now add to her mantelpiece along with her previous Super Category spoils from Les Petits As. The victory was twice as sweet for Pushkareva, as she also took the doubles title. They join a fabled list of junior champions such as Martin Landaluce as well as Linda and Brenda Fruhvirtova who have also held aloft this famed trophy.

Plenty of fanfare accompanied the year’s second Super Category event which returned to its traditional February slot on the #TEJT calendar. There was much-deserved pre-tournament hype surrounding the plethora of events taking place on the first weekend, befitting a tournament of this stature. The players’ lounge was a hub where the players could unwind, offering board games, video games and a chill zone. Plenty more was on offer, including, of course, a welcome goodie bag, warm-up and gym area and practice courts, perfect for players in the pre-tournament qualifying event.

To top it all off, more than 70 players attended yet another session of the Tennis Europe Junior School before the tournament. Our staff as well as members from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) were on hand to give a talk to the players about important matters such as anti-doping, anti-corruption and media. 

Getting down to business, the tournament got off to a flying start for main draw action on Tuesday. Plenty of matches were on offer, boosted by the re-launch of the Tennis Europe app featuring live streaming direct from Stockholm. Wednesday night was the participants’ time to have some fun at the players party. However girls’ second seed, Sofie Hettlerova (CZE), was upset the next day in round 3 by unseeded Canadian and eventual semifinalist Joyce Geng, as was another 2022 Junior Masters participant, Slovakian Kali Supova [5]. The only significant upset in the boys’ draw was also in round 3, where Tim Essonne doubles winner Filip Ladman (CZE), seeded sixth in Stockholm, fell to a lower seed, Vuk Krstajic (MNE).

The event has its own “Last 8 club” modeled on that of Wimbledon’s club of the same name. A bevy of top names were welcomed to the club and gifted their traditional t-shirts while going down in the history books, along with the added privilege of being able to fight it out for a spot in the coveted final. 

Girls Last 8

Ksenia Efremova [1] def Lucie Slamenikova [7] 

Marilyn Van Brempt [8] (BEL) def Veronika Sekerkova [4] (CZE) 

Anna Pushkareva [3] def Sofia Kryvoruchko (UKR) 

Joyce Geng (CAN) def Carla Vazquez Alcudia [9] (ESP) 

Boys last 8

Mark Ceban [1] (GBR) def Mustafa Ege Sik [7] (TUR)

Savva Rybkin [4] def Vuk Krstajic [10] (MNE)

Artem Semenov def Kaan Isik Kosaner [3] (TUR)

Jan Urbanski [2] (POL) def Marco Ontiveros Castro [8] (GER)

 

Mark Ceban and Ksenia Efremova were the big names coming into the event. They carried, perhaps, the weight of expectation which allowed Rybkin and Pushkareva to glide through the draws with less pressure and fearless hitting.

Although Pushkareva was the statistical underdog in the final against Efremova, predictions were for an even tussle given there was little between them in the seedings and their recent run of form. Furthermore, both were coming off big wins in France; Pushkareva won in Tarbes at the end of January and Efremova was fresh off a win at the Category 1 Tim Essonne event last week. All Pushkareva needed was a break in each set to seal the victory, although the 6-4 6-4 scoreline was not as straightforward as the scoreboard may indicate. The match was highlighted by plenty of hard-hitting back-court rallies and big shots, punctuated by Pushkareva’s regular ventures to the net to keep Efremova on the back foot. It worked. Sealing the deal on a fourth match point just shy of the two-hour mark, Pushkareva punished an Efremova second serve with a forehand down-the-line winner, claiming her second Super Category of the year while also bettering her runner-up finish in Stockholm last year.

Les Petit As champion Ceban came into his semifinal match on an 18-match winning streak, having won 32 of his last 33 matches on the #TEJT, going all the way back to August 2022. In what has been a remarkable run, the Brit suffered only his second loss in his last 34 singles matches. His hopes of a second major this season were nixed, as he went down to an inspired fourth seed and the eventual champion. Rybkin took the match 6-3 7-6(3), setting up a final against Pole Jan Urbanski.

In another final full of long rallies and big hitting, it was Urbanski who drew first blood, trumping Rybkin in the first set tie-break to edge ahead. As the match wore on his physical condition seemed to wither, so much so that he was unable to finish the match. Nevertheless, nothing can diminish Rybkin’s accomplishment. The winner of the inaugural 12&U festival in 2021 has only been going from strength to strength since then. He earned seven titles in 2022 as well as a runner-up berth at Category 1 Tim Essonne last week. Now with a Super Category title under his belt and having beaten top seed Mark Ceban along the way, this might just be the beginning of a burgeoning rivalry on the #TEJT, as the pair battle for the top spot in the rankings.

 

Girls’ Doubles final:

Victoria Luiza Barros (BRA) & Anna Pushkareva def Kali Supova (SVK) & Melis Yildirim (TUR) 6-2 6-7(1) 10-5.

Boys’ Doubles final:

Marco Ontiveros Castro (GER) & Vincent Jakob Reisach (GER) def Tomas Krejci (CZE) & Jakub Kusy (CZE) 3-6 7-5 10-7.

 

Elsewhere on the Tennis Europe Junior Tour last week:

14&U Cat.2 | Baseline Cup, Banska Bystrica (SVK)

In what is always a special moment, Jan Skrzynski (POL) won his maiden singles title while Mariia Makarova won her second.

14&U Cat.3 | Cup der Nordverbande, Isernhagen (GER)

Alexander Kunitsyn and Ida Wobker (GER) were the boys’ and girls’ champs at the, with both players claiming their first ever 14&U titles, having already tasted success on the 12&U circuit.

14&U Cat.3 | Bad Waltersdorf 2023, Bad Waltersdorf (AUT)

More breakthroughs, as Patrick Semenic (SLO) and Isabella Angelina Abendroth (GER) were also first-time 14&U singles champs, with both players posting straight sets wins in their finals.

14&U Cat.3 | Ahmet Erguden Cup, Antalya (TUR)

Victoria Ostroukh won the girls’ title while local Mehmet Toprak Ercin won both the singles and doubles.

14&U Cat.3 | Sobota Cup, Sobota (POL)

Artsiom Askirka and Polina Skliar (UKR) were the singles champs, with Skliar also winning the doubles.

12&U Cat.2 + 14&U Cat.3 | Focus/Robey Open, Rotterdam (NED)

Rafael Pagonis (GRE) and Pippa Fennis (NED) were victorious in the 12&U event, while honours in the 14&U tournament went to Stan Put (NED) and Andrea Olariu (ROU)

For full results from last week, click here. For information on this week's events on the Junior Tour calendar, click here.

If you have not done so already, download the Tennis Europe app, ensuring you have access to our live streams, live scores and latest news and results all in the palm of your hand!

Defending champion Ksenia Efremova & underdog Alexey Frolov won the 38th edition of Tim Essonne. Read more to see what else happened on the TEJT last week... 

A busy week on the Junior Tour was highlighted by the Category 1 tournament in Geneviève-des-Bois, France. Last year’s champion Ksenia Efremova defended her title, while the underdog Alexey Frolov surprised everyone at the 38th TIM Essonne event. | Photo Gallery 📸

Throughout the week, Frolov, ranked #346, put on an impressive performance by managing to upset several top seeds. He only lost one set, facing Czech Filip Ladman, seeded 4, against whom he quickly regained the control of the match and won 6-4 3-6 6-1. In the semifinal he saw Matei Chelemen (ROU), who also took out the 7th and 2nd seeds on his way. Even though the first set was more intense, Frolov secured his place in the final with a 7-6(6) 6-3 win.

He played the final against first seed Savva Rybkin and showed no signs of being intimidated by his opponent’s much better ranking. After a 6-2 6-4 victory, Frolov claimed his first Tennis Europe title this year, and first-ever Category One win at a 14 & Under event.

R1: def Sacha Piveteau (FRA) 6-4 6-2
R2: def Filip Ladman [4] (CZE) 6-4 2-6 6-1
R3: def Dan Brand [13] (ISR) 7-5 6-2
QF: def Andreas Philip Cort Malee Hansen [10] (DEN) 6-3 6-1
SF: def Matei Victor Chelemen (ROU) 7-6(6) 6-3
F: def Savva Rybkin [1] 6-2 6-4

If last year Efremova was coming into the tournament as a wildcard entry, ranked #188, this time she’s ranked first. Despite a challenging first round in which she had to play three sets to beat French Lyne Tchach, Efremova dominated her following matches, dropping only 7 games until she reached the final. Her opponent in the final, Sara Oliveriusova (CZE) [2], breezed through the tournament and put up a tough fight for the title. Efremova was leading 6-4 5-4 and serving for the championship, when Oliveriusova turned the match around. Nonetheless, Ksenia quickly learned from her mistake and was declared winner in the end 6-4 5-7 6-3.

R1: bye
R2: def Lyne Tchach (FRA) 6-2 4-6 6-0
R3: def Victoria Luiza Barros [13] (BRA) 6-1 6-3
QF: def Alice Iozzi [12] (ITA) 6-0 6-0
SF: def Elisa Rohrbach [15] (FRA) 6-2 6-1
F: def Sara Oliveriusova [2] (CZE) 6-4 5-7 6-3

 

Boys Doubles final:
Filip Ladman (CZE) & Savva Rybkin def. Marko Erceg (CRO) & Francesco Pansecchi (ITA) 7-6(6) 6-4

Girls Doubles final:
Victoria Luiza Barros (BRA) & Sofia Kryvoruchko (UKR) def. Alice Iozzi (ITA) & Eleonora Toneva (BUL) 7-5 6-3

 

Elsewhere on the Tennis Europe Junior Tour last week:

• Laurentiu Albert Cristian Badea (ROU) won his first ever 14 & Under title on home soil, at the International Championships of Romania U14 (Cat2) in Bucharest after defeating top seeds #9, #4, #1 and #2
• Caden Colburne (CAN) claimed his first Tennis Europe title in Jerusalem, Israel, while Kristýna Dulíková (CZE) her first this year
• Eva Kaliadina won her first ever 14 & Under tournament in Göteborg, Sweden at the Ullevi Tennis Open
• Ilian Mechbal (GER) hadn’t played any Tennis Europe tournament since 2021, but he now returned and won in Hoofddorp, Netherlands |  Photo Gallery 📸
• Thomas Grevoul (FRA) and Darina Matvejeva (LAT) were the big winners at the Open Super 12 in Auray, one of the tour's most celebrated 12 & Under events. Both players emerged undefeated with singles and doubles titles.
• The Super Category 14 & Under event has kicked off in Stockholm, Sweden with the Junior School where topics such as Media, Anti-corruption & Anti-doping were covered.

For full results from last week, click here. For information on this week's events on the Junior Tour calendar, click here.

The Czech Republic has swept both boys and girls titles at the 16 & Under Winter Cups by Dunlop. Read more...

Teams from the Czech Republic have capped an impressive weekend by winning both the boys’ and girls’ 16 & Under Winter Cups by Dunlop. The Czechs have dominated this 44th edition of the competition, sweeping three of the four titles on offer.

The events were split into eight qualifying zones, taking place in seven cities across Europe over the last month. After the hard-fought battles between some of Tennis Europe’s top junior stars, the field was whittled down to just two boys’ and two girls’ teams in today’s finals.

BOYS

The Czechs’ Road to the Title:

Qualifying - Slovakia 3-0, Lithuania 3-0, Great Britain 3-0

Final Rounds - Croatia 3-0, Spain 2-1, Germany 2-0

The #2 players got the ball rolling on finals day in Marcq-en-Baroeul (FRA), with 135-ranked Martin Doskocil coming out of the blocks fast, outdoing his lower-ranked opponent Bengt Johan Reinhard (#399). The Czech took the match 6-1 7-6(4) putting the second seeds 1-0 up. In the clutch match, #10 ranked Diego Dedura-Palomero was hoping to put the Germans on an even keel. Last year’s 14&U Junior Masters champ was certainly up for the challenge against Czech #1 Jan Kumstat.

With just two ranking spots separating the players, the match went all the way. In the end, it was the #8 ranked Czech who scored a crucial break in the deciding set, taking the match and  securing the title 2-6 7-5 6-4.

With the win, the Czechs successfully defended their title, having also won the last edition, staged in 2020. This is the first time a nation has won two events on the trot since France in 2009-10 and now brings the Czech 16 & Under boys’ Winter Cups champions tally to three, including the 1991 edition won as part of Czechoslovakia.

Final Standings:

1. Czech Republic
2. Germany
3. Spain
4. Romania
5. Hungary
6. Great Britain
7. Italy
8. Croatia

GIRLS

The Czechs’ Road to the Title:

Qualifying - Hungary 3-0, Austria 3-0, Poland 2-1

Final Rounds - Belgium 3-0, Sweden 2-0, Great Britain 2-1

The girls’ final rounds were also played in France, this time in Brest, where the highly fancied Eliska Forejtkova (ranked #36) saw off plucky Novocastrian Abby Kelliher (#315) in a tougher than expected 7-6(3) 4-6 6-1 opening tussle.

2022 Roehampton 14&U champ Mika Stojsavljevic (#37) was then able to pull off an upset for the Brits, downing higher-ranked Julie Pastikova (#28) 2-6 6-4 6-3, levelling the tie and taking the final to a live doubles rubber.

The two Czechs returned to court to face Kelliher and Allegra Korpanec Davies for Team GB. Again, the Brits held their own against their higher-ranked opponents and forced the tie to a deciding match-tie break. It would be the arguably more experienced Czech pair (Forejtkova is the reigning European 14&U doubles champion and also played on the winning World Junior Tennis team last year) that held their nerve with some style though, eventually posting a 6-7(7) 6-3 10-3 victory.

This was the first final appearance for the Czechs in this age category since their runner-up posts in 2016-17. They have now amassed five trophies at this event with previous wins coming in 2008, as well as three consecutive wins from 2010-12. Meanwhile, this was the most successful year for Great Britain in recent memory, with the girls’ silver medals adding to the golds won by the 14 & Under boys’ team on Saturday.

The memorable final brought to a close the 44th edition of the Winter Cups by Dunlop, which returned to the calendar after a two-year break due to the pandemic with a new-look, new presenting partner, and 128 participating teams.

Final Standings:

1. Czech Republic
2. Great Britain
3. Sweden
4. Turkiye
5. Slovakia
6. Belgium
7. Poland 
8. Ukraine