The leading under 14 event was rescheduled from January to this week. Covid restrictions have made it difficult for British youngsters to take part in Tennis Europe events this year, so only Hephzibah Oluwadare and Oliver Bonding were able to get in directly on ranking. Ben Gusic Wan and Hannah Klugman have been given wildcards (Hannah is I think the only 2009 in the main draw) while Maximilian Carrier and Flora Johnson came through qualifying.
Play started today with wins for Hephzibah and Hannah, while Oliver lost respectably to the top seed. Scores from all courts are available here while there is live streaming from three courts, including centre, where Ben plays second on tomorrow (first match is at 8am BST)
Boys R1 (L64)
(1) Maxim Mrva (CZE) d. Oliver Bonding 7-5 6-3
(Q) Maximilian Carrier v (7) Nikola Djosic (SUI)
(WC) Benjamin Gusic Wan v Moise Kouame (FRA)
Girls R1 (L64)
Hephzibah Oluwadare d. (15) Emily Deming (USA) 6-2 6-7(5) 6-2
(WC) Hannah Klugman d. Sapir Cohen (ISR) 1-6 6-2 6-1
2/4 so far today with Hannah setting up the all 2009 clash, which tharris indicated was a possibility. The host website has promoted Ksenia, with reference to a Mouratouglou Academy video as saying that her modest aims are to be world number 1 by 16 and to win all 4 slams. Her match with Hannah is fifth on centre tomorrow.
Flora's long unbeaten run , including ITFs came to an end narrowly.
If you haven't had enough of teenage starlets for today, you can see Hephzibah via the link in the first post. She is on centre, but may not be on for long as she has raced through the first set 6-1
Boys R2
(Q) Maximilian Carrier d. Andres Santamarta Roig (ESP) 3-6 6-3 6-2
(6) Ognjen Milic (SRB) d. (WC) Benjamin Gusic Wan 6-2 6-4
R3
(12) Jacopo Vasami (ITA) v (Q) Maximilian Carrier
Girls R2
(LL) Belinda Biro (HUN) v Hephzibah Oluwadare
(WC) Hannah Klugman d. (4) Lucia Hradecka (SVK) 4-6 6-3 6-1
(12) Polina Kuharenko (BLR) d. (Q) Flora Johnson 3-6 6-0 7-5
Ksenia Efremova's mother, Julia, is very media-savvy. Very Russian
Julia used to be a pro tennis player. Ksenia (and mother) are very 'pretty' and camera-friendly (in the 'traditional' way) and - as David says - Patrick M has been boosting them up.