Compass IC Junior Challenge finals

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Day 5

Spain wins the sixth Compass IC Junior Challenge World Wide Finals with a last day win over Monaco/France. It was close through many other matches but Spain came through with an unbeaten record. Second place was taken by Japan with four wins and only one loss to Spain 4-2. After that it got very interesting. On the last day's play South Africa came through to beat the USA 4-2. This meant that after five days of play the teams of South Africa, USA and Argentina all had two wins each. So to decide the 3rd, 4th and 5th places it was up to Mixed Doubles tie breaks. In the draw USA was in the semi final with South Africa and Argentina getting the bye. With all the teams now focussed on watching these matches it was an intense atmosphere for the players. In the semi final USA won over South Africa to line up a final place play off with Argentina. However this time the USA could not repeat their earlier mixed doubles result and Argentina won to give them the third place overall.

Final placings: 1 Spain, 2 Japan, 3 Argentina, 4 USA, 5 South Africa, 6 Monaco/France

Sportsmanship awards were given to Yuki Ando of Japan and Alexandre Figl of Monaco/France.

It has been a great week that the juniors will remember all their life and it is thanks to the great organisation of the IC of Monaco and The Monte Carlo Country Club.

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Friday Results

Champions Spain

Full group of competitors and officials

Winners of sportsmanship awards Yuki Ando (Japan) Alexandre Figl ( Monaco)

Day 4

Once again some excellent matches with a close call between Argentina and Spain with Argentina giving unbeaten Spain a good match but coming up short at 4-2 to Spain. However the "Match of the day" goes to Japan and USA. It was potentially a match that could be critical in the final standings. After four good singles Japan took a 3-1 lead but only with the no.2 Japanese , Yuki Ando coming through 12-10 in the match tie break set against Lexi Merrill. So the doubles were critical. USA took the boys and once again the always smiling Japanese girls came through to secure the overall win at 4-2.

In the other match South Africa recorded their first win over Monaco/France who had a match point to potentially win their first individual match of the week.

So after day 4: Spain 4, Japan 3, USA and Argentina 2, South Africa 1, Monaco/France 0.

So now we go in to the final day of play at this Compass IC Worldwide Junior Challenge Finals superbly run by the IC of Monaco. Thanks to Yves Salaun and his very efficient team.

Final Friday matches to be held after the Teams Gala dinner Thursday night which takes place at the Cafe de Paris in the Casino Square

Spain v Monaco/France, Argentina v Japan, USA v South Africa

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Draw

Ranking

Thursday Results

Organiser Yves Salaun ( Monaco IC Organiser)

Yuka Hosoki - Japanese Team No.2

Day 3

Another great day of tennis with the "Match of the day" between USA and Spain. Both teams came to the third day with unbeaten records so something had to change ! Four exciting and close singles with all being very keenly fought and most going to tie breaks to decide. In the end no team came away with any lead as it was 2 matches each. So once again the doubles became crucial. The Spanish boys took the lead for Spain with a very close 7-5, 7-6 win in a great match. It initially looked good for Spain as their girls took the first set comfortably only to lose the second set. So it was a match tie break again that would either mean an overall win for Spain or for the whole tie to go to a mixed doubles to decide. It was close once again but Spain came through to seal their team victory.

In other action again some good matches in which Japan won against South Africa and Argentina winning against Monaco/France.

That now leaves Spain with 3 wins, USA , Japan and Argentina with 2 wins and South Africa and Monaco/France looking for their first wins.

Thursday's play is Spain v Argentina, Japan v USA and Monaco/France v South Africa.

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Draw

Wednesday Results

Ranking

Spanish Girls win their key doubles

Spain v USA boys doubles in action

Day 2

Another great day of tennis with the "Match of The Day" between Japan and Spain. After four exciting singles Spain led 3-1 with two of the matches going to tie breaks. So the doubles was live. The Japanese girls played well to take their match making the score now only 3-2 to Spain. The Japan boys took their first set and things were looking good for Japan. However Spain came back to take the second set and so in to a 10 point tie break to see if it would be 3-3 and a mixed doubles to decide the overall result. It was very very close with Spain coming through 10-8 to win the boys doubles and so the overall match. In other action USA won over Monaco/France and Argentina came through against South Africa.

So after two days two teams remain unbeaten. This is USA and Spain but as many matches have been close other teams are still in the mix to win the overall title at the end of the week. Also teams will be fighting hard for all six places.

At present Spain and USA have two wins, Japan and Argentina one win with South Africa and Monaco/France still looking for their first win.

The schedule for Wednesday is Japan v South Africa, Monaco/France v Argentina and what could be a key match USA v Spain.

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Draw

Tuesday Results

Ranking

Spain and Japan after their matches

Deciding Matches Japan v Spain

Referee confirming a decision

Day 1

The Compass Worldwide Finals got off to a great start today with the weather matching the beautiful Monte Carlo Country Club. The match of the day was Argentina and the USA which was tied after the four singles matches with both USA boys winning and both Argentinian girls winning. The doubles then became critical with the USA eventually coming through in both matches for a 4-2 win. In the other matches there were some good individual matches but the overall results were both 6-0 with Spain the winner over South Africa and Japan the winner with Monaco/France.

The draw for Day two sees Argentina playing South Africa, Spain playing Japan and USA playing Monaco/France.

There is still lots of tennis to come and all possibilities for eventual results. The standard of tennis is high and being played in a good IC spirit of "hands across the net, friendship across the ocean". There is no question that the juniors are having a great time thanks to the nature of the event, the superb location and the efficient organisation of the IC of Monaco

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Spanish tactics in the clay