02 Aug 2021

Names very much to note, Felix Lebrun and Annett Kaufmann ended proceedings in the cadet age group events on a high note at the Gazprom 2021 European Youth Championships in the Croatian city of Varazdin; on the concluding day of play, each secured two titles.

by Ian Marshall

Frenchman, Felix Lebrun partnered colleague, Flavien Coton to boys’ doubles success, prior to claiming the boys’ singles title.

Similarly, Annett Kaufmann joined forces with Romania’s Bianca Mei Rosu to win girls’ doubles gold, before reserving the top step of the girls’ singles podium.

Cadet Boys’ Singles

In the later rounds of the boys’ singles, Felix Lebrun, the no.2 seed, accounted for Romania’s Dragos Alexandru Bujor, the no.5 seed, prior to ousting Poland’s Milosz Redzimski, the no.3 seed, to reserve his place in the final.

Good form, the good form continued; in the final he caused Romania more pain, he overcame Iulian Chirita, the top seed (11-6, 11-2, 8-11, 11-6, 11-4).

Earlier, in the opposite half of the draw, at the quarter-final stage, Iulian Chirita had beaten Belgium’s Tom Closset, the no.10 seed (11-3, 11-1, 11-9, 11-8), followed by success in opposition to compatriot Horia Stefan Ursut (13-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-5).

Cadet Girls’ Singles

Impressive from Felix Lebrun, it was the same from Annett Kaufmann; on the concluding day of play, the no.2 seed, she recorded wins against Russia’s Anastasiia Ivanova, the no.8 seed (12-14, 11-6, 11-1, 11-7, 11-6) and Ireland’s Sophie Earley, the no.4 seed. A place in the final booked, she accounted for Ukraine’s Veronika Matiunina, the no.10 seed (11-2, 11-1, 11-7, 11-7).

A most determined Annett Kaufmann (Photo: ETTU)

 

A well merited silver medal for Veronika Matiunina and hard earned.

Notably at the quarter and semi-final stages she overcame French opposition. She accounted for Clea de Stoppeleire, the no.11 seed (11-4, 11-6, 9-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6), prior to recovering from a three games to nil deficit to end the hopes of Agathe Anne Avezou, the no.29 seed (12-14, 5-11, 7-11, 11-2, 11-4, 11-6, 11-5).

Cadet Boys’ Doubles

Meanwhile, in the boys’ doubles, after overcoming Milosz Redzimski and Polish colleague, Alan Kulczycki, the no.5 seeds (6-11, 11-3, 11-13, 11-6, 11-5), Felix Lebrun and Flavien Coton, the no.2 seeds, secured the title at the expense of Iulian Chirita and Dragos Alexandru Bujor, the top seeds (7-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-5).

Most impressively, in the counterpart semi-final, Iulian Chirita and Dragos Alexandru Bujor had halted the progress of the combination formed by Spain’s Daniel Berzosa and Germany’s Lleyton Ullman, the no.3 seeds (11-6, 11-8, 11-3).

Cadet Girls’ Doubles

Gold for the second seeds in the boys’ singles, girls’ singles and boys’ doubles; in the girls’ doubles the scenario was exactly the same.

Annett Kaufmann and Bianca Mei Rosu secured the title at the final expense of Russia’s Anastasiia Ivanova and Zlata Terekhova, the no.7 seeds (11-8, 11-4, 11-6).

One round earlier at the semi-final stage, Annett Kaufmann and Bianca Mei Rosu had accounted for the partnership of Ireland’s Sophie Earley and Spain’s Silvia Coll, the no.4 seeds (11-7, 12-10, 11-3); Anastasiia Ivanova and Zlata Terekhova had halted the aspirations of Ukraine’s Sofia Sheredeha and Olha Ponko, the no.11 seeds (11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8).

Schwechat 2012

It is the first time since 2012 in Schwechat that a French player has won the cadet boys’ singles title at a European Youth Championships; coincidentally, it is also the first time since a German has secured cadet girls’ singles gold.

On that occasion Alexandre Cassin won the boys’ singles event, Alena Lemmer was anointed girls’ singles champion.

General News 2021 European Youth Championships