As the countdown to the fifth edition of the ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Finals in Chengdu continues, Diane Parry has one objective: to ensure the girls’ trophy returns to France.

Rennes-born Clara Burel is the current custodian of ITF Junior Finals girls’ silverware, having triumphed at the Sichuan International Tennis Centre 12 months ago after defeating Colombia’s Maria Camila Osorio Serrano in the final.

Indeed, the prospect for a national clean sweep is heightened by a strong French presence at his year’s competition, with Harold Mayot and Valentin Royer competing in the boys’ draw and the girls’ division also featuring Elsa Jacquemot.

Never in the event’s history has a nation’s boy and girl tasted victory in the same year, although Parry is determined to deliver her end of the bargain and soar on the hard courts of Chengdu.

“Clara and Hugo [Gaston, who finished 4th in the boys’ draw in 2018] are good friends of mine, we all competed for France at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games,” Parry told itftennis.com.

“I was very happy for Clara when she won the ITF Junior Masters last year, she had an amazing season and I know how important it was for her to win the final in Chengdu. Now I hope to keep the trophy in France.

“If I was to do that, it would be the perfect way to end my junior adventure and prepare for the full transition to the professional circuit. To finish the season with a trophy is always a very satisfying feeling, but even more so this year, which is my last in Juniors.”

Parry’s aspirations to succeed for the country of her birth stretches further than a potential photo opportunity with Le Tricolore, more a deep-rooted desire to say thank you to a National Association which has invested time and effort into her development.

“Winning the ITF Junior Finals would be recognition of the fantastic job done by the French Tennis Federation for junior players these past years under the strategic direction of Pierre Cherret,” said Parry, who was born in Nice.

“It would also be great for my coach Gonzalo Lopez, with whom I have worked so hard since last year. My objective is to keep the trophy in France and add my name to the impressive list of ITF Junior Finals winners. It is something I would never forget and something which matters in a career.

“Playing in Chengdu was one of the biggest objectives of my season. I will be competing there thanks to my results and ranking, so I’m very happy. It really would mean a lot to win one of the most prestigious trophies on the tour.”

The results which Parry mentions include a second-round appearance in the main draw at Roland Garros, where she succumbed to Belgium’s Elise Mertens, while she recorded her best Junior Grand Slam result once clay had given way to grass.

She surged to the semi-finals at The Junior Championships at Wimbledon, defeating compatriot Jacquemot in the last eight, although eventual runner-up Alexa Noel proved a worthy adversary and duly triumphed. In terms of her overall season, the 17-year-old is hoping the best is yet to come.

“I had high expectations for Roland Garros and won the first round in the main draw but I didn’t play well in the junior competition and that was a big disappointment,” added Parry. “At the same time, I think it was helpful because I went to the semi-final of a Junior Grand Slam for the first time at Wimbledon, but I wanted to win it.

“I would say that it was a good season on the whole. I came into the Top 10 and I’m playing the ITF Junior Finals, but it could have been better. I hope the standout moment is still to come.

“The more you have, the more you want. When you improve and you are close to the highest ranks you want to be the best, but there are so many good players. This means sacrifice and focus at all times and without compromise.”