Hosts Czech Republic will do battle with USA for the title of ITF World Junior Tennis girls’ champions after both nations navigated tension-filled semi-finals to earn a shot at glory on the clay courts of Prostejov.

For the first time this tournament, second seeds Czech Republic had to rely on their doubles to haul themselves over the line, with the unflappable Fruhvirtova sisters, Linda and Brenda, breaking the resistance of a resurgent Canada.

USA also required their potent doubles pairing of Tsehay Driscoll and Clervie Ngounoue to complete a stunning comeback from a 1-0 singles deficit and negotiate the challenge of top seeds Switzerland.

USA now have the chance to seal an eighth ITF World Junior Tennis girls’ title, while the Czechs have earned the opportunity to secure silverware on home soil, something which eluded their boys’ and girls’ teams 12 months ago.

“When I was asked on the first day I said that our goal is the gold medal and we are there and in with a chance,” captain Tomas Josefus told itftennis.com. “It has been a long week but tomorrow is the last step for us, although it will probably be the most difficult step.

“The USA team is very strong but maybe it is the better option for us to play them because we lost to Switzerland during European qualifying and three times in total over the past year. However, the opposition could be anyone and we’d be ready.”

Twelve-year-old Brenda Fruhvirtova has been in irresistible form this week and enhanced her burgeoning reputation further by brutally dismantling Canada No. 1 Kayla Cross 6-3 6-1 in the opening singles rubber.

Victoria Mboko held her nerve to come from a set down and draw Canada level, beating Nikola Bartunkova 4-6 6-3 6-2, meaning the doubles were again decisive. Linda and Brenda Fruhvirtova united to dispatch Cross and Mboko, themselves a formidable doubles pairing, 7-6(4) 6-3.

The USA’s showdown with Switzerland on Centre Court also boiled down to the doubles, with Driscoll and Ngounoue overpowering Karolina Kozakova and Celine Naef 7-6(5) 6-1.

On the eve of the contest and following their quarter-final clash with Japan, USA No. 1 Ngounoue claimed to be feeling “invincible” and she certainly lived up to her own billing by ruthlessly overcoming Naef 6-3 6-2 to draw her team level at the conclusion of the singles.

“These girls have so much heart and I am so proud as a captain to see them in the final,” USA captain Maureen Diaz told itftennis.com.

“I told the girls heading into this tournament that they would have to fight for every single point in every single match and that we couldn’t take any team for granted. Even when we’ve not been at our best, they have shown so much energy and competitiveness.”

Not since 2008 have the girls’ and boys’ team from a nation been crowned champions in the same year – the last side to do so was USA. With the USA boys’ team also reaching the final, the potential to make history remains.

“We’ve worked so hard preparing for this event and to represent the United States is such a big honour for us,” said Diaz. “Winning it would be such a blessing. It could be an American double also. I know [boys’ captain] Jon [Glover] very well and for us to both have wins would be an added bonus.”

Elsewhere, in the 1-8 play-off, Japan defeated Serbia 2-0, while Philippines overpowered Ukraine 3-0. Japan will meet Philippines tomorrow to determine who finishes the tournament in fifth place. In the 9-16 play-off, there were wins for China, Korea, Egypt and Venezuela over Italy, Greece, Brazil and South Africa respectively.