We have a strong team for the first of the European Summer Cup qualifiers - the under 14s - which start today. Eric Lorimer, Niall Pickerd-Barua and Scott Watson will be aiming to qualify for their final in Spain next weekend, and then for the World Juniors in August. However their draw is testing as, although they beat Latvia comfortably today 3-0 (Niall won 6-1 6-3, Eric 6-0 6-1 before Eric/Scott sneaked the doubles in a match tiebreak) qualification depends on beating Germany tomorrow, who include the third ranked player in Europe Johann Nagel-Heyer.
Qualification for the other age groups takes place at the end of July.
Looks like a VERY strong team with 3 top 10 TE ranked players. Surely we are favourites against all European sides?
Favourites possibly, but not as strongly as in the Winter Cup. Many of the points that our trio have gained have been indoors or on grass, and the Summer Cups are played on clay. The only time we have ever won the under 14 European Summer Cup was in 1995 (only time we have even reached the final) whereas we have won the U14 Winter Cup 5 times since then (and had at least one year with 3 top ten ranked players before, probably more)
I am pleased to report that the under 14s comfortably saw off Germany today: Niall winning 6-1 7-6(2) before Eric defeated the TE3 6-3 6-2. Niall and Scott won the doubles in a match tiebreak to secure a 3-0 victory. They play Spain or Poland tomorrow for seeding rights in the finals at the weekend.
The under 14 boys lost to host nation Spain today, so will be unseeded in the finals (Scott won 6-3 6-1 but Eric lost the number 1 match 7-5 3-6 6-2 and Eric/Niall lost the doubles 6-2 6-2)
That's a shame and surprising to see Eric losing! Who did Eric play?
He played Izan Banares Lasala, currently ranked 12, who Eric edged past in a third set tiebreak at the Maia Super Category event quarter-final in Portugal
The under 14 European finals start tomorrow and we draw the Czech Republic. If we win we progress to the semis and book a place in the World Junior finals
Only 24 hours late but Tennis Europe have finally updated yesterday's scores, and the under 14s have made it to the European finals and hence the World Junior finals. In the European final, where we seek only our second ever title we have a rematch with Spain
U14 QF
(3) Czech Republic 1 GBR 2
Matyas Marsik lost to Scott Watson 2-6 6-3 3-6
Michal Rakous lost to Eric Lorimer 7-6(6) 2-6 5-7
Marsik/Smejcky beat Pickerd-Barua/Watson 1-4 5-3 [12-10]
U14 SF
Netherlands 1 GBR 2
Laurens Drijver lost to Scott Watson 0-6 0-6
Stan Put beat Eric lorimer 6-0 6-3
Put/Van Linde lost to Pickerd-Barua/Watson 4-6 0-6
Niall played in the final - to no avail (against the player Eric lost to in qualifying) - but we will still return with silver medals for the first time ever. Here is a team photo
U14 Final
GBR 0 Spain 2
Scott Watson lost to Toni Escarda Pineiro 6-3 3-6 3-6 Niall Pickerd-Barua lost to Izan Banares Lasala 3-6 2-6