The season of European Summer Cups starts today with qualifying for the under 14 finals - which serve as qualifiers for the World Team Junior Championships in August.
We have our strongest team (Maia Lumsden, Gabriella Patricia Taylor and Jazzi Plews) and have quickly reached an unassilable 2-0 in the opening contest with Armenia. To qualify for the European Summer Cup finals we will probably have to beat Spain, seeded 4th in the group behin GBR, Ukraine and Italy. The Tennis Europe rankings used to determine seedings are often misleading, and Spain may well prove tough opposition
As anticipated Spain proved a tough obstacle, with Maia rather worryingly hammered by their number 1 Julia Payola, but they secured the deciding doubles comfortably. They play second seeds Ukraine for seeding rights in the finals. Ukraine include the joint top ranked (with Maia) TE14 Olga Fridman
Semifinal
GBR 2 Spain 1
Gabby won 2-6 6-4 6-4 Maia lost 3-6 1-6 Maia/Jazzi won 6-1 6-3
Although Maia was hammered by her co TE number 1 we won to gain a seeding in the finals this weekend, and will hope to avoid Russia, who look to be the strongest of the unseeded nations
Qualifying final
GBR 2 Ukraine 1
Jazzi won 6-2 6-4 Maia lost 1-6 2-6 Maia/Jazzi won 4-6 6-3 6-3
The European Summer Cup under 14 finals start today in Italy, where as second seeds we have drawn Croatia, so avoid Russia. However it won't be easy as the high ranking of our players (especially Maia) is due to playing a lot of tournaments, with best results being on other surfaces than clay. The Croatian number 1 looks to be strong.
The girls also qualify for the World Juniors by winning the doubles. Next up in the European Summer Cup is the grossly underranked Czech Republic, winners of the Winter Cup - beating GBR en route without dropping a set
Finals R1
Croatia 1 (2) GBR 2
Gabby won 6-1 6-4 Maia lost 2-6 6-4 3-6 Maia/Jazzi won 7-6(8) 6-3
Doubles seems to be a strongsuit for this team, and again they win to book a place in the final against Germany. The Germans like us are used to winning 2-1 with the doubles.
U14 European Summer Cup SF
(4) Czech Republic 1 (2)GBR 2
Gabby lost 3-6 1-6 Maia won 5-7 6-3 6-2 Maia/Jazzi won 7-5 6-7(0) 6-3
Excellent news from Italy as we win the European Summer Cup in style
Jazzi Plews came in and got the team off to a great start by thumping the girl who has been responsible for most of Germany's wins. Maia then finished the job.
The under 16s are attempting to qualify for the junior Fed Cup, starting with the European Summer Cup qualifiers at the National Tennis Centre. The nominated team is Harriet Dart, Anna Brogan and Katie Boulter - also in their group is Germany, with ITF ranked 3 Antonia Lottner nominated.
The under 18s start tomorrow in the Czech Republic with a nominated team of Georgina Sellyn, Katy Dunne and Pippa Horn (Pippa withdrew from the European Championships, so may be replaced)
It was a misfortune, as Harriet was hammered by Lottner unsurprisingly and Katie couldn't come through the more winnable second singles
Under 16 qualifying QF
(2)GBR 0 Germany 3
Katie lost 5-7 6-4 4-6 Harriet lost 0-6 2-6 Harriet/Katie lost 1-6 6-4 2-6
The girls did beat Portugal 3-0 today in a consolation match (Anna and Harriet winning singles in straight sets). Meanwhile Germany thumped the fourth seeds to qualify
Under 18 qualifying SF
Czech Republic 2 GBR 1
Katy won 3-6 6-2 6-3 Georgina lost 5-7 1-6 Katy/Pippa lost 0-6 2-6
