Silverware is within reach for a quartet of players in the boys’ and girls’ draws following the conclusion of group-stage action at the 2019 ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Finals in Chengdu.

Various qualification permutations, some more complex than others, were on the table heading into the day’s action, although by the end of proceedings the field of potential champions had been whittled down considerably.

The winner of the boys’ competition will come from a powerful looking pool containing Junior Grand Slam winners Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune and Shintaro Mochizuki, Harold Mayot and Valentin Royer.

In the girls’ division, a crown will be placed on the head of either current world No. 1 Diane Parry, Wimbledon girls’ singles champion Daria Snigur, USA’s Hurricane Tyra Black or Elsa Jacquemot of France.

Perhaps the most intriguing clash of the day was saved until last. Not only did that tussle pitch together Jonas Forejtek and Rune – two of the three highest-ranked boys on the planet – it also served up a complex qualification conundrum.

Rune knew that victory would see him reach the semi-finals, as would a defeat providing he took a set off junior world No. 1 Forejtek, although a straight-sets loss could also prove enough but was dependent on number of games won.

As it transpired, the drama was greater. Rune fell awkwardly in the first set, injuring his ankle which severely limited his movement, but the 16-year-old Dane stoically persevered and won the necessary number of games required, despite losing 6-4 7-6(1). Rune now faces France’s Royer, who did not feature today due to Liam Draxl’s withdraw from the tournament due to illness, for a place in the final.

“I twisted my ankle badly but I knew that I needed to win a certain amount of games,” Rune told itftennis.com. “I couldn’t grind with him so I had to play really aggressively and did really well in my service games. I’m really happy.

“It would mean a lot to win here and I’m going to fight to get this title. I just hope my ankle gets better – I think it will be fine. I’m looking forward to the semi-final against Valentin. We’ve played three times, it’s 2-1 to me, but all matches have been tough. I can’t wait to get back out there.”

Mayot, meanwhile, was guaranteed a place in the semi-final and indeed top spot in Group Shuai by virtue of Yunchaokete Bu’s morning withdrawal from the competition due to injury. He now faces Mochizuki of Japan in the semi-finals.

Following his defeat to Royer on Thursday, reigning Wimbledon boys’ champion Mochizuki faced a winner-takes-all showdown against Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante, and despite the tussle being a tight affair, the junior world No. 2 prevailed 6-4 6-7(0) 6-4.

By having no other choice but to win today, Mochizuki, who tasted Junior Davis Cup by BNP Paribas glory with Japan in Orlando last month, feels very much in the groove of knockout tennis and insists the capacity is there for another title tilt.

“If I lost today I couldn’t reach the semis but I won a really tough match,” said Mochizuki. “I was nervous beforehand, but I’m very happy now. My physical and mental reserves are good and I’m very focused on my match tomorrow.

“I was still really positive overnight [after losing to Royer] because I knew I was playing well. He was simply better than me, but I’m happy with my level of play and I’m ready to battle for a place in the final.”

Snigur, meanwhile, already in a strong position following wins in her opening two matches, saw her passage to the semi-finals confirmed when Kamilla Bartone, who was still in with a chance of progressing herself, retired from their Centre Court clash due to injury.

The retirement of Bartone made the qualification jigsaw in Group Liang a simpler proposition and opened the door for Jacquemot, who entered her clash with Russia’s Oksana Selekhmeteva knowing victory would ensure her procession to the semi-finals.

The 16-year-old duly obliged, powering to a 6-1 6-1 success and setting up an all-French last-four encounter with Parry – talking the tally of those flying Le Tricolore in the semi-finals to four.

Never before in this competition has a nation scooped both the boys’ and girls’ trophies in the same the year, but with France guaranteed to have a girl in the final and there being a French boy in both last-four ties of their division, that prospect would appear extremely plausible.le.

“It would be incredible for the FFT and for France, it is already amazing to have four French players in the semi-finals but to have two champions would be fantastic,” said Jacquemot, who is the youngest player in the girls’ draw.

“I’m really happy that all four French players are in the semi-finals. I’m really happy to be playing Diane, it’s going to be difficult and there will be more tension but I’m really happy to be at this stage of the tournament.”

Parry rubberstamped her place in the last four by dispatching China’s Zheng Qinwen 6-4 6-3, which in the process ended the hopes of the home favourite doing likewise. Victory saw Parry chalk up her third win from as many matches in Chengdu, while altogether she has now won her last nine.

“I worked a lot in Japan [during which time she won the girls’ singles at JA Osaka] and prior to that I did four weeks of work in Paris,” said Parry. “I think that helped me a lot physically and has enabled me to win nine matches in a row.

“I am very happy to go into the semi-finals having won all my matches. My first [against Black] was complicated but the other two have been good so I’m pleased with how I’m playing. I came here for the trophy and I will do everything I can to win it.”

Black followed Parry’s lead and built on her victory over Zheng on Thursday by overcoming Japan’s Natsumi Kawaguchi 7-5 7-6(1). Snigur now lies in wait.