Title-chasing Germany and Switzerland have the chance to swell their trophy cabinets when they contest the 2022 ITF World Junior Tennis boys’ final following stellar last-four victories in Prostejov.

Germany reached their first final since 2014, when they defeated a Felix Auger-Aliassime-inspired Canada, after dispatching the highly-impressive Kazakhstan following singles wins for Diego Dedura-Palomero and Niels McDonald.

It would be improper at this stage not to acknowledge the achievement of Kazakhstan in making the semi-finals. After all, this was their first appearance at the Finals of a flagship ITF junior team event.

As it happened, however, Germany proved too strong and tomorrow could prove a remarkably successful day for the nation after their girls’ team also reached the final of their draw with victory over USA.

Moments after Peter Pfannkoch’s outfit had triumphed, the boys made their way to Centre Court to watch the dying embers of Julia Stusek’s triumph against Shannon Lam. Destiny now beckons.

“I am very happy of course,” Pfannkoch told itftennis.com. “After losing the match in the group stage, we were a bit worried about the energy we had left, but the boys put up everything they had to get us to the final are we are very proud of them.

“It’s been a very good day for Germany. We have been trying a long time to reach finals again and last year we fell short, but we have two teams there now. I can’t say we expected it, but we hoped to have this chance and, now it’s worked out, it’s beautiful.

“Of course, if we win and bring the biggest trophy home, we will get more attention but, at the end of the day, we have played so many matches to get to the final, whatever happens doesn’t really matter to me.

“I have already seen a big improvement in my team since the start of the week and today they showed that improvement in the mental side of the game.  I just want our boys and girls to go out and enjoy their finals and try the best they can. If they do that, they are winners anyway.”

The group-stage defeat to which Pfannkoch alludes actually came against Switzerland, who claimed a 2-1 win courtesy of a doubles triumph for Thomas Gunzinger and Flynn Thomas against Dedura-Palomero and McDonald.

Gunzinger and Thomas were the Swiss heroes once again in the semi-finals as they joined forces to guide their nation to victory in a match tiebreak against United States, holding their nerve to beat Keaton Hance and Jack Kennedy 6-3 3-6 10-2.

It was 2017 the last time Switzerland were crowned ITF World Junior Tennis boys’ champions when Jerome Kym and Yarin Aebi united to great effect to down a Spanish team which included Carlos Alcaraz.

Opportunity now knocks for further glory, with their captain Roberto Bresolin particularly exuberant about his team’s prowess in doubles and their ability to win ties having been pegged back in singles.

“We have an issue in our country as we don’t have a doubles tournament system which means when players  are younger they don’t have so many chances to practice and play tournament doubles,” Bresolin told itftennis.com.

“We lost many doubles with the under 12s because it’s so alien but over the last two years my players have played more and more and have improved a lot. The US guys, for instance, play a lot together and play so well together, that’s why I’m so happy right now.

“As captain, it can sometimes be difficult to manage emotions. I give my help and support, especially with tactics, but I am extremely proud – it feels like an amazing dream.”

Bresolin, meanwhile, is eager to douse the overall significance of Switzerland’s group-stage victory over No. 2 seeds Germany. He is, however, keen for his charges to take belief from the week as their quest to top the ITF World Junior Tennis podium continues.

“Given we did it [beating Germany] once, that shows us that it is possible, but we have to fight for every ball,” he said. “We just need to play each ball and not think too much about the past. Maybe there is a small advantage as it gives confidence, but we need to fight.

“The idea is always to continue to improve and learn. Now we’re in the final, we will do as much as possible to win the trophy, but what I have tried to do from the very beginning is keep feet on the ground and go step by step. Tomorrow is just the next step.”

A full list of results from day five of the 2022 ITF World Junior Tennis Finals is available here.