ITF

ITF World Summer 2022 31 Palomero and Niels McDonald for the second time in a matter of days following a similar success in the group phase. That stage of proceedings arrived courtesy of a singles victory for Thomas over McDonald, which retrieved the situation after Bergomi had lost at the hands of Dedura-Palomero. "There are not many times in your life that you reach this level of emotion," Bresolin, who spoke in a different language to each of his three team members, told ITFWorld. "How often do you get to have the title of world champion? That is why I am a bit emotional. It was a real team effort, and I am very happy and very proud. "Quite honestly, I didn't expect it, but I am delighted for the boys. We have been together 10 days and within that we have had to manage many different moments, especially off court, but we have been taking it one step at a time. "Winning this tournament is a big step towards their future, but just because you are world champion at 14-and-under level, it doesn't mean you will always be the best in the world, but that step has been taken and it's now up to the boys to keep on working hard and improving. "It is a great moment in their careers, however, and they should gain much confidence from it. They have also learned how to manage tension in these kinds of moments." As Bresolin alludes, the pathway for players, whether they ended the week competing for silverware or battling to avoid finishing last, is clear and the aforementioned list of high- profile names to have played the Finals should provide motivation and inspiration. Indeed, the progression and development of all competitors in the space of just seven days was noticeable. This is one of the founding principles of the competition and was evidenced in no uncertain terms by Kazakhstan. Never before had Kazakhstan qualified for the finals of a flagship ITF junior team competition. That all changed. Having navigated regional qualifying – which reduces the more than 100 countries that start in the event down to the elite who reach the Finals – Kazakhstan, who were represented by Zangar Nurlanuly, Damir Zhalgasbay and Daniel Tazabekov, shrugged off their lack of experience to finish fourth – an amazing achievement. In many ways, this is the beauty of the tournament as it never fails to provide gripping narratives and unearth gems of players who if polished and nurtured could well thrive on bigger stages in future. The 2022 event lived up to billing, roll on 2023! n Germany, who had designs on becoming the first nation since USA in 2008 to win the boys' and girls' titles in the same year. However, it was not to be. The tie itself was decided by doubles and when the final Germany return went long, Switzerland's Thomas Gunzinger and Flynn Thomas embraced, while captain Roberto Bresolin and Alex Bergomi charged on court to join the celebrations. It was quite a moment and handed Switzerland their second ITF World Junior Tennis boys' title and first since 2017. Gunzinger and Thomas had developed into a ferocious doubles pairing during the Finals, winning each of the three matches they contested, all of which were the decisive victories within their ties. In the final, they held their nerve to overcome formidable German duo Diego Dedura- JUNIORS FINAL PLACINGS Girls 1. Czech Republic 2. Germany 3. USA 4. Slovakia 5. Korea, Republic 6. Great Britain 7. Japan 8. Brazil 9. Latvia 10. Serbia 11. Argentina 12. Canada 13. Australia 14. Egypt 15. Tunisia 16. India Boys 1. Switzerland 2. Germany 3. USA 4. Kazakhstan 5. Slovenia 6. Argentina 7. Bulgaria 8. Korea, Republic 9. Italy 10. Czech Republic 11. Japan 12. Ecuador 13. Colombia 14. Morocco 15. Mexico 16. South Africa ONES TO WATCH A renowned talent spotter within junior tennis assessed the talent on show in Prostejov during the 2022 Finals and came up with six names for tennis fans to keep an eye upon in the coming years. We'll enjoy watching the progress of these and all the players who took part. Victoria Barros (BRA) Svit Suljic (SLO) Shannon Lam (USA) Emilio Camacho (ECU) Mika Stojsavljevic (GBR) Antonio Marigliano (ITA) Clockwise from top le : The ITF World Junior Tennis Finals provide players with opportuni es over and above just compe ng. The player party sees friends made for life, while in August players took part in an invaluable educa on session, with pro player Jiri Vesely holding a Q&A It was not to be for Germany or Julia Stusek in the final, but both enjoyed a fabulous week Diego Dedura- Palomero starred for Germany's boys' team The impressive Zangar Nurlanuly in ac on for Kazakhstan

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