Dencheva, Derepasko headline successful GSDF/ITF Touring Team to USA
Bulgarian Rositsa Dencheva and Russian Timofei Derepasko staked their claim as potential stars of the future after collecting titles while part of the Grand Slam Development Fund/ITF Touring team to USA this month.
The pair, both aged 14, led the fortunes of the under 14 girls’ and boys’ teams by each winning the singles titles at the prestigious Eddie Herr tournament, while Dencheva went on to secure a spot in the girls’ singles semi-finals at the Orange Bowl, which is due to be played later on Monday.
A key development initiative, the GSDF/ITF Touring teams are comprised of a group of talented junior players from developing nations, who are invited to take part in ITF-administered teams financed by the Grand Slam Development Fund.
Those players then travel as part of a team, have access to GSDF coaches and gain exposure to higher level tournaments than would otherwise be the case.
Dencheva and Derepasko are two of the nine players making up the 14-and-under GSDF/ITF Touring Team to the USA this year under the guidance of three coaches; Petra Russegger (AUT), Martin Setiawan (INA) and Gianinna Minieri (CHI).
They are joined by three other boys: Alaa Trifi (TUN), Javohir Mirzakamolov (UZB) and Santiago Portugal (MEX), and four other girls: Alexia Estrada (MEX), Kenza El Akili (MAR), Mahinarangi Warren (SAM) and Jo-Leen Saw (MAS) – the leading players from the Europe, Asia, Central America and Caribbean, Pacific and Africa regions.
The 18-and-under GSDF/ITF Touring Team, led by Brazilian coaches Roberta Burzagli and Leandro Afini, also competed at the JA Merida tournament in Mexico, before travelling on to the Eddie Herr and Orange Bowl events.
The under 18 team comprised of seven players including four boys: Dinko Dinev (BUL), Henrique Rochas (POR), Lautaro Ballesteros (ARG) and Togan Tokoc (TUR); and three girls: Evialina Laskevich (BLR), Laura Hietaranta (FIN) and Solana Sierra (ARG).
Hietaranta and Sierra were the standout performers across the under 18 teams, reaching the semi-finals at the Orange Bowl and Eddie Herr events, respectively, but it was the under 14 team that stole the spotlight with silverware.
Dencheva defeated American Eva Oxford 6-1 6-1 in the Eddie Herr girls’ singles final before finishing runner-up in the doubles alongside fellow team member Jo-Leen Saw, while Derepasko ensured the boys’ kept pace with his victory over Max Ested, to the delight of Tour coach Petra Russegger.
“We are very happy with how the tour started,” said Russegger. “If you start a tour with winning trophies this for sure makes things more easy and gives the team lots of motivation for what they all can achieve.
“Playing these tournaments is a great opportunity for the players that have come from different countries: without this programme they probably wouldn't be able to play in these types of tournaments at these uncertain times in the pandemic.”
Russeggerr, herself a former professional who reached a high of No. 255 in the WTA rankings, believes touring teams provide a huge opportunity for talented young players to progress in the game – particularly at the 14-and-under age category.
“It is good to travel together, especially at this age,” she said. “Learning from each other, practising together and staying together as a team. Many kids benefit from this tour, both in terms of tennis skill development as well in terms of their personality development.”