Czechs win 2015 Junior Fed Cup title
In a fitting conclusion, top seeds Czech Republic were pushed to the brink before reigning supreme at the 2015 Junior Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Finals at La Caja Magica.
Marketa Vondrousova, Monika Kilnarova and Anna Slovakova scored a 2-1 win over No. 2 seeds USA, the defending champions, to take home their fourth Junior Fed Cup title and a first for the Czechs since they defeated Poland in the 2001 final.
“I think it’s amazing for me because I won singles and doubles again, today,” said 16-year-old Vondrousova, who was named the Junior Fed Cup’s most valuable player. “It’s really good.”
American Kayla Day put USA ahead by one point with a 6-3 6-1 win against Kilnarova. The USA’s top player, Claire Liu, however, wasn’t strong enough to contend with the Czech’s No. 1, Vondrousova, who came through with a 7-5 6-4 victory.
The girls’ doubles turned out to be a lopsided affair. Slovakova and Vondrousova raced to a 6-0 5-0 lead before Team USA was even able to get on the scoreboard. When the USA finally showed some form to break serve in the sixth game of the second set, Liu let out a huge “YES” that reverberated throughout the stadium. Unfortunately for Team USA, it was too little, too late as the Czech’s nailed down a 6-0 6-2 doubles victory for the title.
“I think we played better at the net and we had better serves,” Vondrousova said. “I’m glad we won.”
Team USA were clearly upset at not being able to defend the title that CiCi Bellis, Alicia Black and Sofia Kenin picked up last year. But they understood why it all went wrong in Sunday’s doubles.
“It’s just disappointing to lose on the last day,” Claire Liu said. “They played really well and we just weren’t ready for it.”
Canada's girls took the bronze.
The formalities at La Caja Magica concluded with a closing ceremony, awards distributed, including the British girls and South African boys receiving honours for best-dressed teams, and a lot of photos being taken.
But that in no way was the completion of the week-long event as everyone involved headed back to the hotel for a farewell dinner and disco party.