Former junior world No. 10 Sean Cuenin stepped up his transition from junior tennis to the professional game after claiming his first men’s title on the ITF World Tennis Tour at M15 Shymkent on Sunday.

The 18-year-old Frenchman earned a slice of history last June when he became one of four French boys’ to reach the semi-finals of the junior event at Roland Garros alongside Arthur Fils, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and eventual champion Luca Van Assche.

His triumph this weekend in Kazakhstan, where he defeated top seed Alibek Kachmazov 6-3 7-6(3) in the final, sees him emulate compatriots Mpetshi Perricard, who won at M25 Uriage last year, and Van Assche (a champion at M15+h Bagnoles de l’Orne this January) in swiftly adding a men’s title to his CV after early promise in the junior game.

Cuenin’s first professional title came in his first ITF men’s singles final, following three semi-final defeats at M15 level since last November – at M15 Opava, M15 Punta Cana and M15 Creteil.

Cuenin wasn’t the only French winner on the ITF World Tennis Tour last week, with 27-year-old Laurent Lokoli also picking up his fourth title of the year – and the 13th ITF singles crown of his career – at M25 Santa Margherita di Pula.

There was also a notable triumph for 18-year-old Ukrainian – and former junior world No. 5 – Viacheslav Bielinskyi, who won his maiden pro title on Croatian soil at M25 Split, while 20-year-old Italian Mattia Bellucci continued his fine season with a fourth ITF singles crown of 2022 - and third at an M15 event in Monastir.

Catch up on all of this week’s men’s results on the ITF World Tennis Tour here