Pacheco and Ngounoue seal Grade A silverware at JA Merida
Home favourite Rodrigo Pacheco and Clervie Ngounoue of the United States claimed the first Grade A singles titles of their careers after conquering all before them at JA Merida in Mexico.
While both Pacheco and Ngounoue have enjoyed doubles success this season, these were their first junior singles titles of the campaign and indeed the biggest of their respective careers. In short, it was a moment to savour.
Left-hander Pacheco was in commanding form all week in Merida and topped the podium without dropping a single set, while his title-winning moment came against Gerard Campana Lee of Korea, Republic.
Campana Lee had been in blistering form himself and having won three successive tournaments, including JA Osaka in October, by the time he faced Pacheco he had chalked up 22 consecutive match-wins. Pacheco, however, prevailed 6-3 6-2.
The 17-year-old, who received an ITF-administered grant financed through the Grand Slam Player Development Programme as a contribution towards his competition-related costs earlier this year, has risen to a career-high No. 8 in the junior world rankings.
Ngounoue, meanwhile, returned to the top 20 of the junior rankings following an equally impressive showing on the clay-courts of Merida, which culminated in a 6-3 6-2 victory over fellow American Ariana Anazagasty-Pursoo in the final.
It has proven a productive period for junior world No. 17 Ngounoue, who won the Australian Open girl’s doubles title alongside Diana Shnaider in January, following her starring role as USA were crowned Billie Jean King Cup Juniors by BNP Paribas champions earlier this month.
The 16-year-old showcased her talent and potential at the Megasaray Tennis Academy in Antalya as USA claimed the Billie Jean King Cup Juniors title for a record-extending seventh time after defeating Czech Republic in the final.
In addition to Junior Grand Slams, JA Merida was the penultimate – the sixth of seven after Criciuma (BRA), Offenbach (GER), Milan (ITA), Pretoria (RSA) and Osaka (JPN) – Grade A event on the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors calendar in 2022.
Grade As are the highest classification of competition on the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors and, as such, carry the greatest reward of ranking points and prestige for the winners.
JA Plantation, the final Grade A of the year and one which is also referred to as the Orange Bowl, begins on 5 December and represents the final opportunity for junior players to boost their end-of-year ranking.