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| The winning U.S. Junior Fed Cup and Junior Davis Cup teams pose with their trophies© Susan Mullane/Camerawork USA |
By Eleanor Preston, special to USTA.com
The USA’s boys’ and girls’ teams clinched a historic double victory in the finals of the Junior Davis Cup and Junior Fed Cup by BNP Paribas finals in San Luis Potosi on Sunday. The two 16-and under American teams matched the achievements of their 14-and-under counterparts in Prostejov last month by winning both events. No nation in history has won all four of the ITF’s junior team competitions in one season.
The USA girls, led by captain Roger Smith, beat Great Britain two nil to win the Junior Fed Cup by BNP Paribas after Christina McHale beat Heather Watson 6-2, 6-2 and Kristie Ahn battled past Tara Moore 6-7, 6-1, 7-5, saving a match-point at 3-5 down in a thrilling third set. The USA boys team, captained by David Roditi, notched up a two nil win over Argentina when Evan King beat Andrea Collarini 6-1, 2-6, 6-2 and Denis Kudla beat Agustin Velotti 6-3, 6-4.
Ahn’s was arguably the performance of the day after looking down and out when Moore served for the match and came within one point of a victory which would have taken the girls’ final to a deciding doubles. “That was the key match, either the winning match or we’d go into the doubles, so I was pretty nervous about it, especially as I was playing Tara, who’s a really good player. I was shaking but my team helped me pull through and the fans kind of spurred me on. When I got down match-point for some reason I didn’t feel like I was down. It felt like I was still in the match,” said Ahn. “This is my first real team competition. It was such an honour to play and realise that if I won this match then I won it for the US and we made history. That was pretty sweet.”
Smith admitted afterwards that he and Roditi had been well aware that their players were on the brink of a historic achievement but tried to shield their charges from any additional pressure. “We knew that coming in here but we tried to keep it away from the players obviously,” said Smith. “The coaches certainly were aware of it and we spoke about it every night and we got more and more excited as we got closer to it. All credit to the girls. They are a good team and they played very, very well. I think this is something that we’ve been waiting for a long, long time, at least in the six years that I’ve been with the United States Tennis Association, for a bunch that can play at this level. I think some things are going to happen for them.”
Sloane Stephens, the girls’ team’s third player, did her bit with some enthusiastic support from the sidelines. “It’s been such a great trip. We’ve been there for each other this whole week and before we came here we weren’t even friends so coming together and having such a great tournament has been amazing. I’ve lost my voice because I’ve been cheering so loud all week,” said Stephens.
Roditi’s boys leapt for joy after ending Argentina’s dogged run in the final, dancing around the centre court at the La Loma Centro Deportivo Club and absorbing the cheers from the large crowd in the stands. “I’m so happy for them. They know that it’s a big deal to be here representing their country because they are part of a very good class from the USA. We could have picked three other guys, five other guys to come and play and they know that they were selected from a very deep group of US players. That put pressure on them and they responded unbelievably well. They are such a good team together,” said Roditi, who was born in Mexico. “It’s a bit bitter sweet for me because I am going to be working with a younger group now. I can’t imagine it finishing any better. It’s great. Doing it in Mexico makes it extra special for me too. I have good memories from this city and I have a lot of good friends here. I’m very, very happy. We just have to enjoy the moment and keep going to the next step.”
“It makes it very special. I’m proud to be to a USA player,” said Raymond Sarmiento. “David’s a great leader and a great coach and a great person. He’s been our role model throughout the week and he’s showed us the discipline and the respect. It’s been a lot of fun too. He’s serious and fun at the same time and that’s what great about him.”