Home Boys' Lists Girls' Lists Men's Teams Women's Teams News Photos Contributors Links Help Sign-UpOnline Store
Latest News | Categories | Authors | News Archives
 
 

News & Features

Tournament Summary
Shapovalov, Potapova Claim Wimbledon Junior Titles; Liu and Arconada Win Girls Doubles
Share:    

The brief junior grass season ended perfectly for Anastasia Potapova of Russia and Denis Shapovalov of Canada, with the pair celebrating Wimbledon Junior Championships in front of large, enthusiastic Court 1 crowds at the All England Lawn Tennis Club last weekend. Potapova, 15, and Shapovalov, 17, had both won titles at the ITF Grade 1 in Roehampton the week before Wimbledon, giving them unblemished 12-0 records on the surface. Potapova defeated Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine 6-4, 6-3 in Saturday's girls final, while Shapovalov overcame Alex De Minaur of Australia 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 in Sunday's boys championship match.

Girls Singles Champion Anastasia Potapova
© Paul Ballard
The fourth-seeded Potapova, a quarterfinalist in 2015, dropped only one set en route to the final, to No. 5 seed Kayla Day, in Potapova's 5-7, 6-2, 6-0 semifinal victory. Day was one of four US girls to reach the quarterfinals, along with No. 9 seed Usue Arconada, No. 8 seed Sonya Kenin and unseeded Claire Liu.

Potapova's opponent in the final was the seventh-seeded Yastremska of Ukraine, who took out Liu in the quarterfinals and top seed Olesya Pervushina of Russia in the semifinals. Neither Yastremska nor Potapova had ever reached a junior slam final before, so how they would cope with playing in front of thousands on the legendary Wimbledon court was an obvious question.

For her part, Yastremska answered by taking a quick 2-0 lead to start the match, but thanks to Hawkeye, it was the ending that provided unprecedented drama and tension.

The replay technology is available on only select courts at junior slams, and as unfamiliar with using it as most juniors are, it rarely has an impact on a match.

But at 6-4, 5-3, with Potapova serving for the match, she was twice denied victory, with Yastremska successfully challenging two first serves, each initially called good, on match point.

Potapova had already failed to convert on her first three match points with two unforced errors and a Yastremska forehand on the baseline. On attempt No. 4, Potapova hit a first serve, and Yastremska's return sailed long, but after Potapova had celebrated winning the title, Yastremska challenged the call, and Hawkeye showed the serve was well out.

"I can't describe it really," said Potapova, a 15-year-old from Moscow. "Well, at first time I was starting, like, Oh, my God, I won it. When she says, can I have a challenge please, I'm just like, please, cannot be. Please. No, it was a fault. Well, I lost that point."

This Article Is Available Only to Recruiting Advantage members
 
Please log in to access premium TennisRecruiting.net content.
LOG IN
NOT REGISTERED?
Register Now For Free!
  • Content Updated Daily
  • Complete Rank Lists
  • Exclusive Articles
  • Recruit Interviews
It's Quick, Easy, and Free!
 

 
 MIZUNO
 
Mizuno Tennis Spring 2023 Collection Promo
 
Prepare for full court domination with Mizuno's latest tennis collection. @MizunoBrand
 
RECENT COMMITMENTS
 

Page updated on Monday, March 11, 2024
Contact our web team with any corrections