Czech Republic and Germany are on a collision course and could well meet during the latter stages of the 2022 ITF World Junior Tennis Finals when silverware is tantalisingly within reach.

Should that showdown materialise then both nations have within their camp someone who has quite literally been there and done it, having competed at the Finals as players back in 1999.

Indeed, Anna-Lena Groenefeld (whose married name is Herzgerodt) and Petra Cetkovska competed here against each other in doubles 23 years ago, with the Czechs coming out on top during a positional play-off.

They have this year returned to Prostejov as the captains of Germany and Czech Republic respectively and are guiding their nation’s rising stars at 14-and-under level – pretty successfully, as it happens, with both through to the quarter-finals.

Neither can remember the match they contested back in 1999, which is hardly surprising given the passing of time, although their general memories of the ITF World Tennis Junior Finals and Prostejov are far more vivid.

“I found a picture at home of the team here from that time which was fun,” Groenefeld told itftennis.com. “Then, when I came here and walked into the dining hall, there were flashbacks and I was remembering so much.

“I remember 1999 was the first time I saw Hsieh Su-Wei and it was out of this world. With her slicing we were all thinking, ‘what is happening?’. It was just so much fun being here.”

Cetkovska is of a similar mind, although there remains a modicum of disappointment that the Czechs were unable to win on home soil the first year the ITF World Junior Tennis Finals were held in Prostejov.

She was, however, a member of the Czech Republic team that beat Russia to top the podium during the 1998 edition of the competition in Nagoya in Japan.

“I don’t remember the match against Germany, but I remember the match we lost against Slovakia,” Cetkovska told itftennis.com. “It was traumatising and sad because we were at home and it was the first time the event was held in Czech Republic.

“It was especially sad for me as I am from the club and was born in Prostejov so I really wanted to win. We won it with the girls in Japan and we really wanted to show we could win again but, overall, the memories are great and this tournament is a wonderful opportunity.

“Winning the tournament in 1998 is such an incredible memory. We beat Russia and it went to deciding doubles – it was such a great match from the very first point of the singles to the very last point of the doubles.

“I was really amazing. I cannot say anything better to describe it than amazing.”

After competing at the 1999 ITF World Junior Tennis Finals, Cetkovska and Groenefeld both progressed along the player pathway and enjoyed successful professional careers, reaching career-high rankings well within the top 30.

Like so many illustrious players since – the likes of Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek, Daniil Medvedev, Ash Barty, Marketa Vondrousova, Ons Jabeur and Coco Gauff have all competed here – Prostejov was one of their first major events.

“Playing here showed that I could compete with the best players in the world,” Cetkovska said. “It gave me extra motivation to work and improve every single day. This is such an important competition for players of that age.

“The same applies to the girls today and I am trying to use my 20 years of experience and transfer my knowledge. At this age they understand and they listen also.”

Groenefeld, who enjoyed a highly profitable junior career, agrees and traces much of her success back to the experiences she had in those formative years, including her outing at the ITF World Junior Tennis Finals.

“After Prostejov, I went on to have a great junior career – I was No. 1 in the world and won a Junior Grand Slam at Roland Garros,” said Groenefeld, who contested 23 Billie Jean King Cup ties for Germany. “The experience of playing for my country, it gave me so much and I learned so much from it.

“Later on, I played Billie Jean King Cup but I already had that team feeling. I always enjoyed playing in teams as it gives you so much energy.

“I hope the girls today feel the same way and are getting as much from here as I did. I really hope they go home, take memories and really want to do well as a result.”

Results wise, it could not have gone much better for Cetkovska, who is captaining her nation for the second successive year, and Groenefeld, whose teams remain unbeaten after the group stage.

Czech Republic, who are the No. 1 seeds here, finished top of Group A following their third victory of the week against Korea, Republic, who have also advanced to the quarter-finals.

The Czechs are also yet to lose a match and against Korea Republic, singles joy for Eliska Forejtkova and Laura Samsonova preceded a doubles triumph, which finished 10-4 in the match tiebreak, for Samsonova and Alena Kovackova.

Germany, meanwhile, finished at the summit of Group C, although today’s showdown against Japan was not without its hurdles and required a match tiebreak doubles win for Julia Stusek and Sonja Zhenikhova. Despite the loss, Japan also progress to the last eight.

Qualification for the quarter-finals had already been determined in the other groups, although Slovakia ensured they finished top of Group B with victory over Brazil. USA did likewise in Group D by dispatching Great Britain.

Quarter-final draw:

Czech Republic [1] v Japan [5]

Great Britain [7] v Slovakia [3]

Germany [4] v Korea, Republic

Brazil v USA [2]

Placement draw:

Argentina [8] v India

Latvia v Australia [6]

Egypt v Canada

Tunisia v Serbia

A full list of results from day three of the 2022 ITF World Junior Tennis Finals is available here.