ITF

30 Summer 2022 ITF World JUNIORS Czech Republic's girls are now the reigning champions at 14-and-under and indeed 16-and-under level having triumphed at the Junior Billie Jean King Cup by BNP Paribas Finals in Antalya, Turkey last October. Spearheading their title charge here were Alena Kovackova, Laura Samsonova and Eliska Forejtkova, who were in blistering form throughout proceedings and did nothing but enhance their burgeoning reputations. The Czechs recorded a series of 3-0 victories against Canada, Argentina and Korea, Republic to top Group A, before overpowering Japan in the quarter-finals and Slovakia in the semis. Standing between them and a sixth ITF World Junior Tennis girls' title were Germany and the showdown threw up a quirky fact. Czech captain Petra Cetkovska and Germany skipper Anna-Lena Groenefeld were to draw swords in Prostejov once again, having competed against each other as players at the 1999 ITF World Junior Tennis Finals. This is further evidence of the productivity of the ITF player pathway, with two players showcasing their potential at a flagship ITF junior event before enjoying a successful professional career and then guiding the stars of tomorrow. While neither Cetkovska nor Groenefeld, who both reached the world's top 25, could recall the clash in question, they remembered the ITF World Junior Tennis Finals with huge fondness. Their sincere hope was the tournament would have a similar impact upon their teams and the individual players within them as it did for them nearly 25 years earlier, and the evidence was startlingly positive. In the end, the Czechs were just too strong as Samsonova and Kovackova defeated Sonja Zhenikhova and Julia Stusek respectively in singles before Forejtkova and Samsonova joined forces to defeat Zhenikhova and Michelle Khomich in doubles. "I am delighted and happier than words can describe," Cetkovska, whose team were the top seeds, told ITFWorld. "I am proud of them. As a team they have been through some difficult periods but have been incredibly professional and have continued fighting. "They deserve this success and, as I say, I am so proud of them. It also once again shows the strength of Czech tennis – the girls are especially strong – and long may that continue. It is great for our nation." The Swiss boys, meanwhile, were equally as impressive and defeated Colombia, Mexico and No. 2 seeds Germany to hit the summit of Group D before advancing to the final at the expense of Argentina and USA. There, the Swiss faced a rematch with

• Cover