Aspendos Amphitheatre provided the stunning backdrop for the Junior Davis Cup and Junior Billie Jean King Cup by BNP Paribas Finals opening ceremony, but very soon it will be the teams and players taking centre stage.

The opening ceremony followed the draw for the two competitions, with the hurdles that nations must overcome to top their respective podiums now far clearer as the excitement builds ahead of tomorrow’s opening day of action.

Czech Republic are highly fancied in Junior Davis Cup and Junior Billie Jean King Cup and are the No. 1 seeds in both, and they will bid to become the first nation to win the boys’ and girls’ event in the same year since the United States in 2014.

The Czech girls, who were last crowned Junior Billie Jean King Cup champions in 2015, can showcase their qualities and potential to win silverware when they begin their quest for glory against Peru.

Pitched alongside the Czechs and Peru in Group A are No. 5 seeds Argentina, who will hope to make a winning start to their Finals campaign when they do battle with Egypt.

Czech Republic's Junior Davis Cup team, meanwhile, who lifted silverware back in 2017, will begin against hosts Turkey, who would become the first boys’ team since Spain in 2004 to triumph on home soil should they conquer all before them. Czech Republic and Turkey will also draw swords with Japan, who are seeded No. 6, and Chile – Group A's other opening day contest.

With the United States not competing in Antalya, there is guaranteed to be a different name on the Junior Billie Jean King Cup trophy for the first time since 2016 when Poland defeated Russia in Budapest.

One of the teams firmly in the mix to snare their crown is Russia, who are the No. 2 seeds, and they will open their account against Mexico, while No. 8 seeds Thailand and Hong Kong will do battle tomorrow after also being drawn in Group D.

Canada’s girls are also among the sides tipped to reach the latter stages and they will feature in a hugely competitive group containing No. 6 seeds Hungary, hosts Turkey and Germany. Turkey versus Hungary will be the first contest of the 2021 Junior Billie Jean King Cup Finals to feature on Centre Court.

Yet to lift Junior Billie Jean King Cup silverware, Canada will face Germany in their opening group match and their No. 1 player Victoria Mboko sees no reason why they cannot go the distance and make a significant impact at the business end of the tournament.

“I am pretty confident,” said Mboko. “This Canada team, we are really good friends, have great team spirit and I feel we can do well. There are some tough nations, but we are going to try our best and search for gold.

“I am really excited to compete on the court and play for my country. Representing Canada means a lot to me because I know a lot of other pros like Felix [Auger-Aliassime], Denis [Shapovalov] and Leylah [Fernandez] have done really well in junior team competition in the past.

“Putting a great image on Canada feels great and there are going to be many Billie Jean King Cup ties coming in future so building a good team spirit for Canada is a good thing.”

Completing the Junior Billie Jean King Cup line-up, No. 4 seeds Romania have been drawn in Group C alongside Japan, who are the seventh seeds, Chile and Morocco. Romania face Morocco tomorrow, with Japan going head-to-head with Chile.

In Junior Davis Cup, No. 2 seeds France will begin their victory charge against Egypt, with Hong Kong and Canada doing battle in the other Group D clash on Tuesday.

No. 3 seeds Mexico face Russia, while the other showdown in Group B sees Bulgaria, who are seeded No. 7, face Tunisia. No. 4 seeds Germany, meanwhile, have been drawn in Group C alongside Brazil – the No. 5 seeds – Argentina and Korea, Republic.

Despite not being among the seeded teams, Yaroslav Demin is brimming with confidence and is in no doubt that Russia’s boys possess all the attributes to make a lasting impression in Antalya.

“We had practice earlier today and we’re looking good,” he said. “Russia are going to play this tournament like it’s a World Cup. Doing well for Russia means a lot. I love representing Russia and I want to beat everyone when I play for Russia. Our team will give everything for one another.”

With the 16 teams in each draw now divided into four round-robin groups, the four group winners and four runners-up will progress to the quarter-finals. 

Junior Billie Jean King Cup Finals

Group A: Czech Republic (1), Argentina (5), Egypt, Peru

Group B: Canada (3), Hungary (6), Turkey, Germany

Group C: Romania (4), Japan (7), Chile, Morocco

Group D: Russia (2), Thailand (8), Hong Kong, Mexico

 

Junior Davis Cup Finals

Group A: Czech Republic (1), Japan (6), Chile, Turkey

Group B: Mexico (3), Bulgaria (7), Tunisia, Russia

Group C: Germany (4), Brazil (5), Argentina, Korea, Republic

Group D: France (2), Hong Kong (8), Canada, Egypt