Tennis Europe Junior Masters Crowns Champions at Monte-Carlo

Europe’s top teenage tennis players competed on the red clay of the Monte-Carlo Country Club last week, where 32 competitors contested the Tennis Europe Junior Masters across the under-14 and under-16 age categories. The tournament brought together the continent’s leading junior talent in the Principality, following in the footsteps of former participants such as Rafael Nadal, Alexander Zverev, and Kim Clijsters.

Blazej Krzysko Claims Under-16 Title for Poland

Saturday’s finals saw Poland’s Blazej Krzysko capture the under-16 boys’ championship on the main court at the Monte-Carlo Country Club, avoiding rain. Seeded fourth, Krzysko defeated Hungary’s Mark Jony 6-4, 6-1 in 68 minutes to cap a flawless week in which he did not drop a set across four matches. The victory marks the first time a Polish player has won a Tennis Europe Junior Masters title.

In the under-16 girls’ division, Greece’s Lydia Panagiotidou faced Serbia’s Zana Peric after both arrived in the Principality tied at the top of the “Race to Monte-Carlo powered by Smartshot” standings. Panagiotidou controlled their first career meeting to win 6-2, 6-3 in 80 minutes.

Rafael Papoian and Mariia Kocherzhenko Secure Under-14 Trophies

Russia’s Rafael Papoian concluded a strong season by winning the under-14 boys’ final against Bulgaria’s Bruno Dzhenev. Papoian raced to a 6-2, 3-0 lead before Dzhenev capitalized on errors to claim four of the next five games. Papoian regrouped to break his opponent’s serve and close out the match for the gold medal.

In the under-14 girls’ category, Ukraine’s Mariia Kocherzhenko defeated Italy’s Olivia Conticello. Kocherzhenko became the first Ukrainian player to win the under-14 girls’ Masters title, earning victory under the gaze of her idol, Marta Kostyuk, who reached the final in 2015.