Czech Republic have been crowned Junior Billie Jean King Cup by BNP Paribas champions for the fifth time in their history after defeating Japan in a one-sided final at Club Mega Saray in Antalya, Turkey.

Brenda Fruhvirtova and Sara Bejlek once again showcased their on-court dynamism by dispatching Sara Saito and Sayaka Ishii respectively in the singles as their nation claimed their first Junior Billie Jean King Cup title since 2015.

The victory also ends the stranglehold of the United States, absent from the tournament this week, on the event’s honours board after they topped the podium for three successive years from 2017.

In truth, the top-seeded Czechs have been utterly dominant, winning 14 of the 15 matches they contested, with their only defeat coming against Argentina when Nikola Bartunkova was forced to retire early in the second set.

After a period of illness, Bartunkova was slated to feature in today’s doubles, although so impressive were Fruhvirtova and Bejlek that their nation’s No. 1 player was not required.

In short, the Czech celebrations were fully warranted and for Fruhvirtova and Bartunkova, it is a second team championship after their triumph in national team colours at the 2019 ITF World Junior Tennis Finals in Prostejov.

“To be taking the trophy home feels great,” Fruhvirtova told itftennis.com. “To be taking it home again, two years after winning in the 14-and-under age category and to now be the best team at under-16 level just makes me really happy.

“It has been a really amazing week and the team has had so much fun. Usually, we play by ourselves, but this is a team competition, and we don’t get to play as a team for most of the year. It was really fun and I cannot wait for the next event like this.”

By topping the podium here, Bartunkova, Bejlek and Fruhvirtova have followed in some hefty footsteps. In the last five editions of Junior Davis Cup and Junior Billie Jean King Cup alone, the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Coco Gauff, Denis Shapovalov, Iga Swiatek and Marketa Vondrousova have all helped their nations to glory.

“For sure, it is an inspiration to see the players who have won this event in the past and see that they are now at the top of the game,” said Fruhvirtova, who is ranked No. 24 in the junior world rankings. “For sure, it is a big motivation.”

During an interview with itftennis.com earlier in the week, Czech captain David Skoch was keen to brush off the favourites tag despite his team being top seeds. He was adamant, however, that his side had the potential to thrive here in Antalya.

His confidence was warranted and while acknowledging plenty of hard work lies ahead for his charges, he believes the capacity is there for them to make an impact within the game’s professional ranks.

“I am really proud – that is exactly how I am feeling right now,” Skoch told itftennis.com. “I am especially proud because my girls were not feeling 100 per cent this week. They had some injuries, but they fought hard and they did it.

“Winning this tournament will motivate them a lot and becoming the best team in the world is a big motivation for them. But they have to work really hard all the time and we’ll see what the future brings.

“That said, all three girls are really good and I think they will have a good chance to go really high in the WTA rankings. Let’s hope they do it really soon.”

At the age of 14, Fruhvirtova was the youngest player in the tournament by some considerable margin. In fact, she was the only one with a 2007 birthdate, although she consistently defied her age and ruthlessly dispatched Saito to fire the Czechs into an early lead.

Saito appeared in trouble immediately but rallied to save four break points in the opening game, although Fruhvirtova’s quality soon told and three successive breaks of serve contributed to a 6-1 mauling in the opening set.

There was little respite for Saito in the second as Fruhvirtova, who ended the week with an 8-0 win-loss record, raced into a 4-0 lead following two more breaks of serve before she closed out the contest to post a commanding 6-1 6-3 triumph.

The Czechs were now one match-win away from being crowned the inaugural winners of the rebranded Junior Billie Jean King Cup following its evolution from Fed Cup. The knockout blow was duly applied by Bejlek.

Once again bedecked in her trademark look – different coloured tennis shoes – left-hander Bejlek pulled away midway through the opening set after she and Ishii had exchanged an early break of serve.

Bejlek stormed into a 4-2 lead in the second but with the Czechs seemingly on the brink of victory, five breaks of serve in six games forced the showdown into a match tiebreak. Bejlek, however, held her nerve to win 6-3 7-6(7) and kickstart the Czech party.

“It is an amazing feeling because it is a big tournament,” Bejlek, who claimed her first professional title at W60 Olomouc in July, told itftennis.com.

“I am so happy to be here and to be experiencing this. Some matches were easier than others. I was a little nervous today, but I am so happy to get my nation over the line.”

It was simply not to be for Japan, who were bidding to be crowned Junior Billie Jean King Cup champions for the first time, and to erase the heartbreak of losing the 2017 final to the United States.

Despite them ultimately falling short, it has still been a hugely successful week for their players and an important and key staging post for the development of Ishii, Ena Koike and Saito.

As it was, however, the final word went to the Czechs, who have moved alongside Australia into second place on the all-time list for total number of Junior Billie Jean King Cup triumphs. 

With the completion of the junior event, focus now turns to the inaugural Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Prague in November, with a potential junior-professional Czech Republic double up for grabs.

“Good luck to the Czech women’s team at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals,” added Fruhvirtova. “For sure, it would be a nice double for Czech Republic.” Bejlek echoed Fruhvirtova’s sentiments. She added: “I hope the Czech women will win. I think they will.”

Junior Billie Jean King Cup

Final placings:

1. Czech Republic; 2. Japan; 3. Russia; 4. Germany; 5. Canada; 6. Morocco; 7. Peru; 8. Mexico; 9. Thailand; 10. Romania; 11. Turkey; 12. Hungary; 13. Chile; 14. Argentina; 15. Egypt; 16. Hong Kong