On Friday, Sakino Miyazawa (JPN) and Mario Vukovic (FRA) were crowned champions of this landmark edition.
On the girls’ draw, it was an-all Japanese final. On one side of the court stood Sakino Miyazawa, the Tour's Overseas Player of the Year in 2024, who advanced to the final without dropping a set all week. Facing her was compatriot Shina Okuyama, who made an impressive run from the qualifying draw, defeating several top seeds along the way, including #13, #2, and #7. Ultimately, Miyazawa proved stronger, claiming the trophy with a decisive 6-4 6-2 victory.
As for the boys, Laurens Drijver (NED) upset top seed Rafael Pagonis (GRE) in the quarterfinals and endured a tough three-set semifinal to secure his place in the final. Meanwhile, Mario Vukovic was in a dominant mood throughout the week, conceding very few games. Despite Drijver's momentum from winning the doubles title the day before, Vukovic eased to a 6-2 6-2 triumph, earning his first 14 & Under title at a Category 1 event, adding to his win at the prestigious 12 & Under Festival at the end of 2023.
Richard Joyner, the Tournament Director, believes it was the best edition the Bolton Junior International has seen despite its rich history. “This is the 30th year, and each year the standard seems to get better and better, and that’s certainly proved to be the case this week. Although you see some good play, the names aren’t necessarily well known when you see them, but history tells us that a number of them go onto win Slams.”
Elsewhere on the Tour:
- Second seeds Elizaveta Anikina (EST) and Laurits Oestergaard (DEN) won the Category 2 14 & Under event in Narva (EST)
- At the Category 2 event in Larnaca (CYP) qualifier Carl Filip Bak Weller (DEN) upset second seed Alexandros Avgeris (GRE) 6-4 1-6 6-4 to win his second ever 16&U title. Also in Larnaca, home favourite and top seed Andrea Georgiou Papakyriacou won against Romina Hincu (MDA) 6-1 6-0.
- Emilia Henningsen (DEN) stunned top seed Alexandra Budkova Kjaer 6-1 6-0 to win the Northern Vision Norwegian Open singles title. After rest, the two later joined forces to claim the doubles trophy.
Stay tuned for an exciting week on the Junior Tour with the first Super Category event of the season - Les Petits As in Tarbes, France - and the qualifying rounds of the 12 & Under Winter Cups by Dunlop all set to take place.