Great Britain 12U boys win Tennis Europe Summer Cup while Brits finish fifth at the ITF World Junior Tennis Finals

GB’s boys broke new ground as the first British team to ever win the 12U Boys' Summer Cup after defeating home-favourites France in the final on Sunday.

The British team – including Max Hodkinson, Tomas Gabor and Cameron Rae – topped their group with 3-0 wins over Belgium and Turkey, and a 2-1 victory over Czechia, to qualify for Sunday’s final.

Facing France on clay in the championship decider, the Brits put in an impressive display to claim a 3-0 victory, capping off a stellar week in Saint-Valery-en-Caux.

The Great Britain 12U boys team now hold both the Tennis Europe Summer and Winter Cups.

Team captain and LTA National Age Group Coach Richard Plews said: “What the team have managed to achieve is nothing short of outstanding. These boys have shown their true warrior spirit - out-playing and out-battling an impressive year group of their peers.  

“They qualified from Bucharest in 40+ degree temperatures every day and gave absolutely everything to back up their Winter Cup victory earlier in the year. They will leave France with lots of great experience and should be very proud of their efforts.”

Last week, the GB 16U girls’ team were also in action at in Marianske Lazne, Czechia, finishing fifth in the Summer Cup.

Britain’s Hollie Smart, Daniella Britton and Edie Griffiths lost their opening round tie against eventual champions Romania but bounced back to claim wins over Hungary and Austria, sealing a fifth-place finish.

The result means that they have qualified for the Billie Jean King Cup Juniors by Gainbridge in Santiago, Chile from 3-9 November this year.

Captain and LTA National Women’s Coach Katie O’Brien said: “I'm really proud of the team's performances this week. After losing a tough opening match against eventual champions Romania, the girls gave an impressive response and didn't lose a match for the rest of the competition.

“We're excited to qualify for the Junior Billie Jean King Cup later in the year and I know the team will give it their all in Chile.”

Meanwhile, the GB 14U girls’ team were also competing on the clay in Czechia, clinching fifth place at the prestigious ITF World Junior Tennis Finals.

Great Britain’s team – Megan Knight, Sofia Tatu and Grace Watson – came into the competition off the back of a runner-up finish at the Summer Cup back in July and got off to a fantastic start in their World Finals campaign.

The Brits defeated Japan, Venezuela and Chinese Taipei to top their Group and progress to the knock-out stages.

In the quarter-finals, the British team narrowly lost out to South Korea in a tie-deciding doubles match tie-break, which put them in the fifth to eighth place play-offs.

Despite the disappointment, the Brits came back stronger and got their own victory in a doubles-decider against China before beating Chinese Taipei for a second time to clinch fifth place.

Captain and LTA National Age Group Coach, Kate Warne-Holland commented: "It was an extraordinary week from the girls competing against strong opposition. We had match points in the quarter-final and were unlucky not to win but it was great that the team found a way to win the final two matches to finish fifth. All three girls played a big part in the team's success and it's amazing for them to compete in the World Finals."