Marcinko and Mensik seal maiden Grade A titles with Cape Town success
Croatia’s Petra Marcinko and Jakub Mensik of Czech Republic claimed their maiden Grade A titles – the most prestigious trophies of their fledgling careers – with victory at JA Cape Town.
Marcinko defeated Clervie Ngounoue of the United States 6-3 6-3 in the girls’ final to not only top the podium and lift silverware but also surge into the top-10 of the junior world rankings. She currently sits at a career-high No. 8.
The duo are familiar opponents, having competed against each other twice already this season – at the Roland Garros Junior Championships in June and then during a quarter-final showdown at JA Milan a month later.
Ngounoue had won both previous encounters, although Marcinko turned the tables when it truly mattered to take the plaudits and claim her second title of the campaign following success at J1 Lambare in February.
“I was so focussed throughout the whole match and did not have the big doubts I sometimes have,” said Marcinko, who was seeded No.3 for the tournament. “I was keeping the rhythm all the time. I was ready for her because I played her twice before, so I knew what to expect.”
It proved a double celebration for the Zagreb-based 15-year-old as she also triumphed in the doubles alongside Denmark’s Johanne Christine Svendsen. The pair dispatched Czechs Brenda Fruhvirtova and Barbora Palicova in the final.
In the boys’ final, there was something of an upset as Mensik overcame top seed Leo Borg of Sweden to seal his first success of 2021, recording his first tournament win since November 2020.
“It was a tough match because he was playing so hard,” said Mensik. “My tactic was to eliminate errors and play clever. I made sure I was not pushing the ball because it was the tactics my coach decided. It was hard but not so hard because I was playing at my best.”
As with Marcinko, Mensik also now occupies a career-high ranking, with his victory at Cape Town propelling the 16-year-old to No. 13 in the junior world rankings.
However, there was to be heartbreak in the doubles as Mensik and Peter Benjamin Privara of Slovakia succumbed to France’s Paul Inchauspe and Tanapatt Nirundorn of Thailand in the final.