While seeded teams enjoyed a productive opening to the Junior Davis Cup and Junior Billie Jean King Cup by BNP Paribas Finals, France were among the nations to post a resounding success as they began their title quest in style.

No. 2 seeds France were utterly dominant against Egypt as Arthur Gea and Gabriel Debru posted singles wins, dropping just one game between them in the process, before Gea and Antoine Ghibaudo triumphed in the doubles.

The 3-0 win propels France to the summit of Group D, while they are joined in the winners’ enclosure by Canada who also enjoyed a 3-0 rout after outmanoeuvring Hong Kong, who are the eighth seeds here.

Debru, who is ranked No. 43 in the junior world rankings, arrived in Antalya in a rich vein of form having topped the podium at his previous two tournaments, taking his tally of titles for the season to three. The 15-year-old is clearly enjoying his winning streak and has no intention of surrendering his unbeaten run without a fight.

“We are so happy to start the tournament with this intensity and, for the team, it is the perfect start,” Debru told itftennis.com. “We have prepared well for this tournament and have come here with the objective to win.

“I have played well in tournaments leading into here, and it is amazing to be among the best three players in France in this age group. It is perfect for us to be able to say that we are the best three and it makes us want to do well.

“We are very focussed. It is a different tournament with Covid and masks and everything, but in many ways it is better for the team as it makes things simple for us and the focus is on the group. I think we are a better team as a consequence.

“Recuperation is now the main thing after matches and we just enjoy the time together. We appreciate it is not every day that we get to play a competition like this so, on court and during the match, it is complete focus. Afterwards, it’s recuperation.”

Elsewhere, there was a comprehensive victory for top seeds Czech Republic as they began their quest for Davis Cup Finals glory with a degree of flair, defeating hosts Turkey 3-0, while the other Group A clash saw Japan thrash Chile 3-0.

Germany were equally as impressive in Group C as the fourth seeds overpowered Korea, Republic 3-0, while the big South American showdown went the way of Argentina, who required a decisive doubles match – won by Nicolas Eli Nahuel and Gonzalo Zeitune – to overcome Brazil.

There were not too many ties on the opening day which went the distance but another showdown which did was Mexico’s victory over Russia. Trailing 1-0, Mexico levelled matters through Rodrigo Pacheco’s singles win, before he and Luca Lemaitre teamed up for doubles joy.

There were no such concerns for Bulgaria as they dispatched Tunisia 3-0, which meant both seeded nations in Group B began the Junior Davis Cup Finals with a victory.

At the 2019 ITF World Junior Tennis Finals in Prostejov, meanwhile, Japan’s Sayaka Ishii was often the No. 2 singles player for her nation. Here, she is shouldering the added pressure of being the No. 1, and she passed her first examination with flying colours.

The 16-year-old, who touched down in Turkey having won the last tournament she contested at J4 Miki-City, defeated Chile’s Martina Pavissich as No. 7 seeds Japan prevailed 3-0 and made the perfect start to their Junior Billie Jean King Cup Finals odyssey.

“In the past, I have been the No. 2 singles player which meant I was following the No. 1, but in this tie I have taken the responsibility and the big pressure of being No.1, which means I lead the team," Ishii told itftennis.com. 

“I felt this responsibility before the match and winning was therefore such a nice feeling. I enjoyed being the leader. It was so important for Japan to win this first tie and now we have momentum.”

The other tie in Group C, between No. 4 seeds Romania and Morocco, included a closely-fought showdown between Stefania Bojica and Malak El Allami which lasted a staggering three hours and 45 minutes. El Allami ultimately prevailed 7-6(9) 4-6 7-5, with Morocco proceeding to take the tie 2-1.

There was another pulsating clash in Group B as unseeded Germany sent out a message to the rest of the field by beating No. 3 seeds Canada 3-0. Marie Vogt and Ella Seidel clocked up singles victories, while Vogt and Carolina Kuhl navigated the doubles.

After Vogt had taken the first singles match, Canada’s Victoria Mboko battled back to level the second at 1-1, prompting the watching Naomi Jianuo Xu to remark: “I swear these guys are trying to give me a heart attack”. It seemed to capture the mood perfectly.

Hosts Turkey are off the mark after dispatching Hungary 2-1. Duru Soke and Melisa Ercan were the stars of the show as they assured their nation of victory before Hungary hit back in the doubles.

Elsewhere, there were conclusive 3-0 victories for top seeds Czech Republic and Argentina, against Peru and Egypt respectively, in Group A, while in Group D No. 2 seeds Russia dispatched Mexico 3-0 as Thailand did likewise to Hong Kong.