 Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 07 Jun 2009 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 07 Jun 2009 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 07 Jun 2009 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 07 Jun 2009 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 07 Jun 2009 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 07 Jun 2009 |
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| 07 Jun 2009 - Paris, Francie - Simon Cambers | |
| Daniel Berta and Kristina Mladenovic win Roland Garros junior titles |
Remember the names. Daniel Berta and Kristina Mladenovic joined a Who’s Who of champions at the French Open on Sunday as they won the junior titles at Roland Garros.
Sweden’s Berta beat French hope Gianni Mina 61 36 63 but Mladenovic kept the home fans happy as she saw off Russian Daria Gavrilova 63 62.
Berta became the fourth Swede to win the boys’ title, following in the footsteps of Mats Wilander (1981), Stefan Edberg (1983) and Kent Carlsson (1984).
The unseeded 17-year-old, who had practised this week with men’s finalist Robin Soderling, dropped just one set en route to the final but had to stave off a strong fightback from Mina.
Berta had cruised through the first set on Court Suzanne Lenglen against a clearly nervous Mina, but the Frenchman fought back well only for Berta to snatch the third, clinching victory with a stinging forehand.
“It's a great honour,” Berta said. “
“I was expecting him to come back into it because I know he's a slow starter, but I was just trying to keep my focus and not let my (level) go down.”
Berta broke to lead 5-3 in the final set and then led 40-0 only to panic as Mina hit back to deuce. But after forcing a fourth match point, he made no mistake with a forehand to the corner to take the title.
“I play pretty good from the baseline - that's what I think got me this trophy.”
Mina admitted he had been nervous at first, but said he was satisfied with his efforts.
“Even though I was defeated, I'm happy,” Mina said. “Many people supported me and the audience was with me. I did my best today - I didn't play my best tennis, but I hope that next year I will come back.”
“Next year if I'm back on the main draw, I'll be happy. Otherwise, in juniors, I hope I will win next year.”
When Mladenovic was broken in the first game of the girls’ final, it looked as if France would be doubly disappointed.
Gavrilova, who had beaten Australian Open winner Ksenia Pervak in the semi-finals, led 2-0 but Mladenovic began to find her form as she got back on terms, thanks to a couple of nice drop shots.
With her big serve working well and her groundstrokes constantly forcing Gavrilova back, the 16-year-old broke again to lead 5-3 and served out for the opening set.
After trading breaks at the start of the second set, Mladenovic raced to a 4-1 lead and though Gavrilova got one of the breaks back to cut the deficit to 4-2, the home favourite broke again and then served out for a convincing victory.
“I'm just very proud of me during this week,” said Mladenovic, who did not lose a set all week and who became the seventh French girl in the modern era to take the title. “I played a very solid game and I think I was better than all my opponents this week.
“I had a lot of experience, thanks to my first Roland Garros. I got a wildcard (to the main draw) and I think I improved a lot during these last months.”
Mladenovic said she now planned to play as many senior events as she is allowed.
“Of course I'm not going to play all the junior tournaments because I'll be No. 1 in the world,” she said. “I've won a grand-slam tournament. This was my objective for juniors. This is done, this is over. So it's a turnaround for me. I'll be able to play more on the WTA Tour.”
Gavrilova was in tears during the prize ceremony, but at 15 and as the youngest player in the draw, her day will surely come.
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> Mladenovic and Mina in Junior French Open Finals
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> Robson through on day of upsets
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> 2009 Roland Garros Preview
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