ITF

ITFWORLD SPRING 2016 31 www.itftennis.com E leven years after Victoria Azarenka won the Australian Open girls' singles trophy, Vera Lapko's Melbourne triumph has Belarus hoping that it has another star on its hands. Lapko became just the second Belarusian to win the girls' title Down Under, her 63 64 win against friend and former doubles partner Tereza Mihalikova, of Slovakia, also securing her the junior world No. 1 ranking for the first time. "I felt really good," said Lapko. "Just happy. I don't know how to explain the feeling what is happening when you are winning a Grand Slam. I was just so nervous and then, yes, I won just like this." Lapko's results have shown steady signs of progress. Last year she reached the semifinals of junior Wimbledon and the quarterfinals at the US Open before hiring new coach Vladimir Kruk, who previously worked with Olga Govortsova, at the end of the season. He looks to have made an immediate impact with Lapko winning the warm-up event in Traralgon before her first junior Grand Slam title. Being involved with Belarus in Fed Cup by BNP Paribas has also provided a confidence boost for Lapko, who won all three doubles matches she played in Europe/Africa Group I last year and was a nominated member of the team that beat Canada 3-2 in World Group II in February. Belarus was promoted to the World Group in April's play-offs. "I think you know that I played the Fed Cup last year, so I'm confident just in this," said Lapko. "I changed my coach at the end of the last year, so my game and my head, everything changed a lot. I'm just confident in myself from now, from this year." Lapko is targeting a second junior Grand Slam triumph at Roland Garros, but her focus is now predominantly on the professional circuit. The 17-year-old has a clear goal for where she wants her year-end ranking to be. "The next goal, if I'm going to play, is to win the French Open," said Lapko. "I think I'm going to prepare for the clay season much better than the last year. I think the goal for this year is to get into the top 200. I feel ready to go for pro." new belarusian talent arrives

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