The U.S. Junior Davis Cup (16-and-under) team and both the boys’ and girls’ World Junior Tennis teams (14-and-under) qualified for the 2009 World Finals at the North/Central America & Caribbean Regional Championships this past weekend. The qualifying was held at the USTA Training Facility Headquarters at the Evert Tennis Academy in Boca Raton, Fla. In addition, the U.S. Junior Davis Cup team and the boys’ World Junior Tennis team each went undefeated to win their qualifying pools, while the U.S. Junior Fed Cup team and the girls’ World Junior Tennis team each finished as the runner-up to Canada.
Each event featured a four-team, round-robin competition with the top two teams advancing to the 16-nation World Final in the World Junior Tennis Competition. Mexico automatically qualifies for the Junior Davis Cup and Junior Fed Cup World Finals as the host country, leaving just the winners from the Regional Championships as the other teams to qualify. The World Junior Tennis Finals will be held Aug. 3-8 in Prostejov, Czech Republic. The Junior Davis Cup and Junior Fed Cup World Finals will be held Sept. 29-Oct. 4 in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
2009 North/Central America & Caribbean Regional Championships
Final Standings:
Junior Davis Cup
1. United States* 3-0
2. Mexico* 2-1
3. Canada 1-2
4. Guatemala 0-3
World Junior Tennis - Boys
1. United States* 3-0
2. Mexico* 2-1
3. Canada 1-2
4. Dominican Republic 0-3
Junior Fed Cup
1. Canada* 3-0
2. United States 2-1
3. Mexico* 1-2
4. Bahamas 0-3
World Junior Tennis - Girls
1. Canada* 3-0
2. United States* 2-1
3. Mexico 1-2
4. Guatemala 0-3
*Qualified for the 2009 World Finals; Mexico automatically qualifies as host of the Junior Davis Cup and Junior Fed Cup World Finals
The U.S. Junior Davis Cup team, coached by Hugo Armando, went undefeated in nine singles and doubles matches on the weekend. The U.S. team was led by Jeremy Efferding (Lake Worth, Fla.), who posted a 5-0 overall record (3-0 at No. 1 singles). Teammate Shane Vinsant (Keller, Texas), the 2009 Easter Bowl Boys’ 16s champion, went 4-0 (2-0 in singles), while Dennis Mkrtchian (Reseda, Calif.) went 3-0 (1-0 in singles) for the U.S.
The U.S. Junior Fed Cup team, coached by Roger Smith and led by Ester Goldfeld (Brooklyn, N.Y.), did not lose a match on court but was forced to default two matches on the opening day of play. Goldfeld and teammate Lauren Herring (Greenville, N.C.) each went 4-0 (2-0 in singles) for the U.S., while teammate Nicole Gibbs (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) posted a 1-0 record in singles. During the U.S.’s opening-round tie vs. Canada, Herring was held out by team doctors due to a medical condition, while Gibbs was playing in the semifinals of the USTA French Open wild-card playoff at the Boca Raton West Country Club. Gibbs was unable to return to the Regional Championships in time to compete against Canada, and the U.S. was forced to default the second singles and doubles rubbers, resulting in a 2-1 loss.
Like the Junior Davis Cup team, the U.S. World Junior Tennis boys’ team also went undefeated in nine singles and doubles matches. Mackenzie McDonald (Piedmont, Calif.), Joseph Di Giulio (Newport Beach, Calif.) and Nikko Madregallejo (Duarte, Calif.) all posted identical 4-0 records with two singles victories each for the team, which was coached by Andres Pedroso.
In the World Junior Tennis girls’ event, the U.S. team, coached by Kathy Rinaldi, was led by Victoria Duval (Bradenton, Fla.) -- currently ranked No. 1 in the USTA Girls’ 14s and the reigning USTA Girls’ 14s national champion -- who posted a 2-1 singles record. Brooke Austin (Indianapolis), the reigning USTA Girls’ 12s national champion, went 5-1 (3-0 in singles), and Jamie Loeb (Ossining, N.Y.) went 2-1 in three doubles matches for the U.S.
The International Tennis Federation administers team competitions to give young tennis players the opportunity to experience international competition and the unique atmosphere of playing in a team for their country.
Last year, the United States became the first team in history to win all four world titles in the same year. It was the Junior Davis Cup team’s second title, with the other coming in 1999. The Junior Davis Cup team has also reached the final on four other occasions, including a 1986 second-place finish by Jim Courier and Michael Chang. The United States was runner-up at the 1993 Junior Fed Cup to Australia.
The U.S. girls’ team won the World Junior Tennis title for the third time (1992 and 2007) in 2008 and will seek an unprecedented third straight title in August, while the boys’ team will attempt to repeat as champions for the second time this decade (2002-03).
In addition to Courier and Chang, former U.S. junior international team members include Andy Roddick, James Blake, Lindsay Davenport, Jennifer Capriati, Mardy Fish, Robby Ginepri, Jamea Jackson, Ashley Harkleroad and Lisa Raymond.