ITF

FOR TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR KRISZTINA TAMAS, THE JUNIOR DAVIS CUP AND JUNIOR FED CUP BY BNP PARIBAS FINALS ENCAPSULATE MUCH MORE THAN JUST TENNIS. "The best moments are at the end, at the farewell party, when I see the kids celebrating, jumping around, dancing and having fun," explained Tamas, when asked for her favourite moments from the event's three-year stint in Budapest. It is certainly true that this event is like no other – a colourful carnival celebrating the next generation of outstanding players, but one played in a spirit of sportsmanship, with benefits extending far beyond the court. Lasting memories and friendships are formed, and with the Finals moving to Florida in 2019, it is evident that the tournament's organisers will miss the convivial atmosphere which the occasion engenders. "You get to see so many tournaments during the year, but this one is so unique because it's not just on Saturday with two people left for the final," added Tamas. "It's the whole week, all the teams are here, everybody is competing, you can talk to them, get to know them and show them around the city." The importance of the life lessons which players have taken from Budapest over the years should not detract from what happened on court, and 2018 was no different. Budapest was given a fitting send off with two nail-biting finals. The Junior Fed Cup saw a continuation of a rivalry between USA and Ukraine which had dominated girls' team tennis at the 14-and-under ITF World Junior Tennis Finals in 2016 and 2017. That these teams reached the title match at the higher age group year points to the progress of both. But with both unbeaten heading into the final, something had to give. It was second seeds Ukraine who started stronger with Lyubov Kostenko defeating the higher-ranked Alexa Noel 64 61, only for Roland Garros girls' singles champion Cori Gauff to hit back for the top-seeded Americans, defeating Dasha Lopatetskaya 61 46 60 to level the tie. The four singles players returned to court shortly after to contest a tense deciding doubles rubber. Ultimately, it was the Americans who showed the greatest resolve, battling back from losing the first set and saving match point in the match tiebreak before recording a 57 64 11-9 triumph. "I'm really proud. We've overcome a lot this week," Gauff reflected. "Me, Alexa and Connie [Ma, the third member of the American team] hadn't really spoken before this trip. I think we made such a great team, constantly supporting each other no matter what the score." The victory ensured that USA became the first nation to successfully defend the Junior Fed Cup title since Russia in 2009-10. The Americans also equalled Australia's record of five Junior Fed Cup titles. "It feels great that we've defended it. We were inches away from losing the title," Gauff said. "This has been such a long week. Alexa and I have had some long, tense battles. We might not have always played well, but I think we're champions because we fought harder." The Junior Davis Cup Final was arguably more nerve- racking. Second seeds France, who had won European qualifying but toiled through the first few days in Budapest, found their groove to set up a final with sixth seeds Spain, who had dropped just two rubbers all week and upset top seeds Italy in the semifinals. Lilian Marmousez, a player with a gloriously smooth one-handed backhand, got France off to a strong start with a 61 46 62 victory over Mario Gonzalez Fernandez, before Harold Mayot continued the French momentum to go a set and a break up over Carlos Alcaraz Garfia. But the pressure of a final can do strange things, and Mayot missed a match point chance on the Spaniard's serve at 64 5-3 up, and failed to serve out the match a game later. Alcaraz Garfia hit back to take the second set before powering through the third to record a 46 75 61 win and level matters. "I was nervous, very nervous but I knew I had to play very well to win the match against a very good player," said Alcaraz Garfia. The Spanish intensity did not subside during the doubles, with Alcaraz Garfia and Pablo Llamas Ruiz recording a 62 63 victory over Marmousez and Martin Breysach to claim a sixth Junior Davis Cup crown for their nation. The Junior Davis Cup podium was completed by Argentina, who defeated Italy to finish third for the third year in succession. In the girls' event, Slovakia defeated Russia to secure Junior Fed Cup bronze. So now attention turns to the future – and this year's champions will look to emulate previous winners and use their success at junior level as part of the transition to the professional game. "The future of my players is very big. I think in the future these boys will be ATP players," said Spain's captain David Ayuela Mendez. If the history of Spanish Junior Davis Cup champions is anything to go by, the omens are good – Rafael Nadal, Albert Costa and Tommy Robredo are just a handful of Spaniards with a Junior Davis Cup title on their CV. But regardless of whether competing at this event is one of the first steps in a long and rewarding career or the pinnacle of these players' achievements, recollections from the week are likely to stay with them forever. "It's an unreal experience and something I am always going to be reminded of," enthused Brazil's Natan Rodrigues. Few of his peers would disagree. ■ ITFWorld // WINTER 2018 3 5 RIGHT: Harold Mayot lost a crucial rubber against Carlos Alcaraz Garfia MIDDLE: Alcaraz Garfia and Llamas Ruis celebrate their doubles victory ABOVE: Lyubov Kostenko overcame Alexa Noel to give Ukraine hope

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