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U.S. juniors conclude World Team Cup with victory against Brazil

Victoria Chiesa | May 08, 2022


On the last day of competition, the U.S. juniors closed out the 2022 BNP Paribas World Team Cup in Vilamoura, Portugal in style. Facing Brazil for the second time in the tournament in the 7th-to-8th-place play-off round, Charlie Cooper and Maylee Phelps clinched the third and deciding match in doubles to send Team USA home on a high note.

Eighteen-year-old U.S. rookie Lily Lautenschlager got the red, white and blue off to a perfect start in her tournament singles debut with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Vitoria Miranda, but the tie was assured of being decided by doubles after girls' world No. 2 Jade Lanai defeated Cooper in the second singles match, 6-3, 7-5. 

 

In a repeat of their opening round-robin match against Brazil, which also came down to a tie-breaking doubles match, Cooper and Phelps saved their best for last: The highest-ranking American pair came from a set down in a marathon, 6-7(6), 6-3 [10-7] victory over Lorenzo de Godoy and Arthur Dantas to clinch the event's last tie. 

 

The 2022 event on a whole was one of improvement for the U.S. juniors after they finished eighth in 2021 with four 3-0 defeats. All four players on the roster saw competitive match action, and 14-year-old Cooper posted the team's best individual record. Entereing the competition ranked world No. 12 in juniors, Cooper won three of the five singles matches he played, and went 5-4 across singles and doubles overall.  

 

After representing the U.S. internationally for the first time, Lautenschlager has plans to continue her academic and athletic career at the University of Arizona in the fall after she graduates from Lincoln East High School in Lincoln, Neb. this spring.

Charlie Cooper in action hitting a forehand. Photo credit: Mathilde Dusol/ITF

The U.S. juniors joined the men's team in bettering their 2021 position this year; after finishing seventh in the competition last fall, the men's team of Chris Herman, Jason Keatseangslip, Conner Stroud and Casey Ratzlaff posted a fourth-place showing in Vilamoura. 

 

Team USA at the 2022 World Team Cup

Men's Results - 4th Place

Round Robin (3-0): def. Israel (3-0), South Korea (3-0) and France (2-1) 

Semifinals: l. to Netherlands (2-0)

Bronze Medal: l. to Japan (2-0)

 

Women's Results - 3rd Place

Round Robin (2-0): def. Thailand (3-0) and France (3-0)

Semifinals: l. to Japan (2-0)

Bronze Medal: def. Colombia (2-0) 

 

Quad Results - 4th Place

Round Robin (1-2): def. Israel (2-1); l. to Brazil (3-0) and Great Britain (2-1)

Semifinals: l to. Netherlands (2-0)

Bronze Medal: l. to Brazil (2-0)

 

Junior Results - 7th Place

Round Robin (1-2): def. Brazil (2-1); l. to Great Britain (3-0) and France (2-1)

Positional Play-Off: l. to Argentina (2-1)

7th to 8th Play-Off: def. Brazil (2-1)

 

More from the 2022 BNP Paribas World Team Cup

Women sweep Colombia for bronze, men place fourth

Quads place fourth after loss to Brazil

U.S. women, men beat France to reach semifinals

Quads finish second in Group B, reach semifinals

Women sweep Thailand, men beat South Korea on Day 2 

U.S. goes 3-0 on first day of World Team Cup

Groups made and draws set in Portugal

Maylee Phelps: On the rise and ready for more

Huayi 'Eric' Court ready to learn from the best in debut

Seedings announced for World Team Cup

U.S. teams named for 2022 BNP Paribas World Team Cup

 

The 2022 BNP Paribas World Team Cup, the wheelchair tennis counterpart to the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup. For more information, including access to historical records, visit the USTA's BNP Paribas World Team Cup homepage.

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