They may be defending champions and the most successful boys’ team in the history of ITF World Junior Tennis, but United States captain Jon Glover insists there is no pressure on the class of 2019 to emulate their nation’s former winners.

Glover was at the helm as the United States defeated hosts Czech Republic on the clay of Prostejov 12 months ago to secure their fifth ITF World Junior Tennis title and first since 2012.

The United States are the only nation to have ever won the boys' division of the tournament in successive years, in 2002 and 2003 – latterly when Donald Young and Leo Rosenberg held their nerve in a decisive doubles clash against Japan’s Kei Nishikori and Fumiaki Kita.

Despite their history in the competition and back catalogue of success in the 14 and under age category, Glover has moved to douse expectations, preferring instead to point to a player’s ongoing development as essential.

“There is no pressure at all,” he told itftennis.com. “One hundred per cent of the time we focus on the process. One of the big advantages for us at this event is that most of our players haven’t travelled extensively internationally before, they have predominantly played in the US.

“To have them for a couple of weeks and for them to buy into the process during that time is our big goal. They are aware that last year’s group won here, and they are friends with those guys. Winning is probably a goal of theirs but, for me, our focus should be on preparing the right way, having a great attitude and giving 100 per cent.

“If they do those things then they will improve, which is the most important thing at this age. If they win, it’s icing on the cake. If they don’t win but do what I just mentioned, that’s fine also.”

Irrespective of a team’s ambitions over the coming week, each and every participant is likely to be aware of the vast array of esteemed players to have featured at the TK Plus Arena during the tournament’s business end.

Current and former world No. 1s, Grand Slam winners and the game’s biggest names have all competed here, with Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal – winners of a combined 34 Grand Slam singles titles – being previous headline acts.

The list of big-hitters to have featured at the Finals is all but endless: Andy Murray, Amelie Mauresmo, Lleyton Hewitt, Ashleigh Barty, Juan Martin Del Potro, Elina Svitolina, Kei Nishikori, Eugenie Bouchard, Nick Kyrgios, Frances Tiafoe, Sloane Stephens and Andy Roddick to name but a few. Such names equate to considerable inspiration for future generations.

“Last year’s group was very cognisant of some of the previous players,” said Glover. “The US hadn’t won [the tournament] since 2012 with Frances Tiafoe, Michael Mmoh and William Blumberg, who the current team know.

“We have some guys here who are students of the history of the event and the former US players who have taken this pathway. They feel like it is a really special opportunity for them because we have a lot of good players in the US who could have represented the US here and done a good job.

“It is special for them to be part of the team and part of an event which has seen so many good players contest in the past. For them to feel like they have a chance to be on the same pathway as some of those players is important.”

Kyle Kang, Nishesh Basavareddy and Dylan Charlap are the players charged with leading the United States’ charge and following in the footsteps of Victor Lilov, Bruno Kuzuhara and Evan Wen, who guided their nation to victory in 2018.

“It’s a different group,” said Glover. “They are very skilled and very good players. The last group were probably more physically developed. These guys are not as mature physically but they are good clay-court players.

“They are also very coachable, just like last year’s group, and buy into our process and what we’re asking them to do. It’s a different group but they are fun to coach and get along with each other very well, which is so important.

“It’s critical for them to see where they stand with regards to their peers around the world. It’s imperative for them to see what players from other countries are doing as it will give them a greater sense of the world at large.

“It’s vital for them to see this and for them to then go home with added motivation and areas to improve upon.”