 Photographer: Srdjan Stevanovic
Date: 09 Aug 2008 |  Photographer: Srdjan Stevanovic
Date: 09 Aug 2008 |  Photographer: Srdjan Stevanovic
Date: 09 Aug 2008 |  Photographer: Srdjan Stevanovic
Date: 09 Aug 2008 |  Photographer: Srdjan Stevanovic
Date: 09 Aug 2008 |  Photographer: Srdjan Stevanovic
Date: 09 Aug 2008 |  Photographer: Srdjan Stevanovic
Date: 09 Aug 2008 |  Photographer: Srdjan Stevanovic
Date: 09 Aug 2008 |
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| 09 Aug 2008 - Prostejov, Czech Republic - James McGurran & Isabelle Gemmel | |
| USA Dominates in Prostejov; Historic Wins for Both Teams |
USA has won the boys and girls event at the World Junior Tennis Finals 2008 in Prostejov, Czech Republic, the first time that one nation has lifted both titles in the same year.
The boys team, comprised of Christian Harrison, Alexis Halebian and Tyler Gardiner is the first USA boys team to lift the trophy since 2003. The girls team retain the title that they won last year.
Alexis Halebian set the USA on course for its victory over France with a 63 62 win over Mathias Bourgue. Christian Harrison then sealed the title for USA by claiming the second singles rubber, giving the US team an unassailable lead going into the doubles. Harrison, who formed part of the USA team at the 2007 WJTF that finished third, beat Lucas Pouille in straight sets, 62 64.
The girls final saw USA defeat Great Britain 2:1. USA claimed the first match with their number two player Kyle McPhillips defeating Britain’s Joanna Henderson 26 64 64. Laura Robson (GBR) then levelled the tie with a completely dominant display, defeating Grace Min 61 61. The deciding doubles drew a crowd to Prostejov’s Court Number One. The British pair took the first set 64 as they stole the early initiative, as they had done in the first set of both singles ties this morning. However, Min and McPhillips replied in kind by taking the second set 62. A nervy start to the third set from the Americans saw Britain race to a 3-1 lead, before the US restored parity, then moved ahead for the first time in the set, to make it 54. Henderson was unable to hold her serve and the US took the match 46 62 64, and with it the title of World Champions 2008.
In the boys third place play offs, India defeated Canada to take third place in the boys event, the highest finish for an Indian Junior team in their history of competition on the international stage.
Other matches completed today saw Egypt finish thirteenth and Venezuela fourteenth meaning Europe will regain one more place in 2009’s WJTF after host nation Czech Republic defeated South Africa in the fifteenth/sixteenth spot play off. Africa will lose one spot in next year's competition.
In the girls event, second seed Russia defeated eighth seed Belgium 2:1 to claim third place. Belgium claimed it’s highest finish in the Finals. In the fifteenth/sixteenth place decider between Brazil and South Africa, Brazil completed a 2-0 win in the singles ties.
Please find related articles below:
> Serbia and Australia Claim Fifth Place
> World Junior Tennis Finalists decided
> Semifinals line-up decided at World Junior Tennis Finals
> Top seeds victorious at World Junior Tennis Finals
> World Junior Tennis Finals underway in Prostejov
> 2008 World Junior Tennis Finals Preview
> 2008 World Junior Tennis Finals
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