After a week of glorious Spanish weather with temperatures in the high twenties, the finals kicked off three hours late dues to a rain delay. The players, professional and up to the task, weathered the storm, no pun intended, and prepared accordingly. Both finals were played at the same time with plenty of onlookers filling up the stands, not least Tennis Europe President Henrik Thorsoe Pedersen as well as the Vice-President of the Spanish Tennis Federation, Jordi Tamayo De Winne.
Pagonis’ Road to the title
R64: def. Tomas Dufek (ESP) 6-1 6-4
R32: def. Diego Tarlazzi (ITA) 4-6 6-4 6-0
R16: def. Alvaro Marin (ESP) 6-3 6-1
QF: def. Lucas Herrera (GER) 7-6 6-4
SF: def. Max Lorincik (SVK) 6-2 1-6 6-4
In the boys’ final it was Pagonis who drew first blood, breaking Francisco Sardinha in the third game and immediately consolidating to go up 3-1 in 17 minutes. Another break and quick consolidations had the European #1 with the first set under his belt in just over 30 minutes.
A double fault by Pagonis, followed by a contentious overrule by the chair umpire on the far baseline corner gave Sardinha a 0-40 advantage on the Pagonis serve – an opportunity he took advantage of to break back and serve at 2-3. Later on, while up 5-3 Pagonis let a couple of match points slip by and Sardinha saved two more down 5-6. Ever the fighter, Sardinha could not hold off the Greek player however. A forehand drop shot sealed the win for Pagonis as he took the match 6-3 7-5
After his win Pagonis told us, “I had five match points and he made four winners and on the last match point I said I’m just going to go for it. I’m very happy with my third Super Category of the year. It was a tough week, good matches and good players also.”
As the current Race leader, he 14&U European Junior Champion and now the winner in Barcelona, the Greek player will go into the Junior Masters in Monte Carlo as the hot favourite.
Bernstein’s Road to the Final
R64: def. Mariyam Nurzhan (KAZ) 6-0 6-0
R32: def. Victoria Meza (ESP) 6-1 6-1
R16: def. Clemence Schneider (FRA) 6-3 3-6 6-1
QF: def. Zeliha Nil Cukurluoglu (TUR) 7-5 6-2
SF: def. Konnstantina Volonaki (GRE) 6-1 6-4
In the girls’ final, after going toe-to-toe for the first six games, Bernstein got the crucial break and at 5-3 was serving for the set. At 40-15 up, the Swede served it out to take the first set at the 44-minute mark.
An early break in the second set gave Berstein a 3-1 lead and she never looked back, using all the corners of the court and moving her opponent around. The Swede raised her hands in victory after sealing a 6-3 6-1 win.
Upon winning, she told us “The tournament is amazing. I played well and fought until the end … this match today as well and it was very nice to win it! If I get in (to Monte-Carlo), it will be fun!”
Doubles Champions
Boys: Luys Calin (GER) & Max Lorincik (SVK)
Girls: Eduarda Gomes (BRA) & Emilia Henningsen
Earlier in the week, the tournament had kicked off with the opening ceremony on Sunday. This was followed by a Junior School session on site by Tennis Europe staff yesterday encompassing various topics and featuring a thirty-minute Q&A with former Roland Garros champion Albert Costa. Live streaming was available all week via Crionet.
This is the second year the event was held at these temporary facilities in Barcelona. Next year the event is set to take place at the TEC headquarters. Construction is due to finish in the coming months and players will be able to enjoy a new venue focused on space, sustainability and the environment.
Elsewhere on the TEJT this week:
2nd Alibaba Cup
16&U Category 1 | Hummene, Slovakia
- Sebastian Tejerina (POL) won the boys’ title, picking up his fourth title of the year
- Meanwhile, the girls’ champ was Kara Fronek (AUT). It was her fifth singles title of the season.
- Boys’ doubles champions: Laurentiu Badea (ROU) & Mihaly Ieliszejev (HUN)
- Girls’ doubles championss: Irma Chukhlich(UKR) & Ayanna Maria Mitu (ROU)
For more results from the Junior Tour this week, go to: https://www.tenniseurope.org/page/35674/Tennis-Europe-Junior-Tour-Winners