 Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 03 Aug 2009 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 03 Aug 2009 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 03 Aug 2009 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 03 Aug 2009 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 03 Aug 2009 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 03 Aug 2009 |
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| 01 Aug 2009 - Prostejov, Czech Republic - Catherine Michie & Isabelle Gemmel | |
| World Junior Tennis Finals 2009 |
The 19th World Junior Tennis Finals will be held this week on the clay courts of TK Prostejov in the Czech Republic. For the eleventh consecutive year the club will host the competition for boys and girls aged 14 & under.
16 boys’ and 16 girls’ teams, from a total of 23 countries, have fought their way through tough regional qualifying competitions for the chance to compete in the finals. This year saw a record 169 teams from 89 nations competing in the 4 qualifying events.
The event begins with a round-robin competition, teams being divided into four groups of four teams. The winner of each group qualifies for the knockout semi-finals, while the remaining nations go into play-offs and fight for position.
USA returns to defend their titles in both the boy’s and girls’ event. They rate among the favourites in both events to claim this year’s title, and with it the accolade of being the first country to win consecutive titles in the girls’ and boys’ events.
France, winners of this year’s European Summer Cup, joins the USA in the boys’ event as one of the competition favourites. They will look to go one better this year after losing to the USA in last year’s final, and are certainly strong contenders for this year’s title. 2007 Champions, Australia, are also in the running and will go into the competition feeling confident having won their regional qualifying event earlier this year.
In the girls’ event, along with defending Champions USA, Asian champions, China, will look to put themselves on the map with their first World Junior Tennis Title. However, they will have to battle past fierce competition from a strong Russian team, who will look to reclaim a title they haven’t won since winning back-to-back titles in 1999 and 2000, and also Canada, winners of the final qualifying of their region.
Past competitors in this competition include Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Kim Clijsters and Amelie Mauresmo. All players this week will be hoping to emulate their sporting heroes and take their first steps along the road to become champions.
The nominations and draw can be found below.
Please find related articles below:
> World Junior Tennis Finals – Qualified teams
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