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.