Philippines lead junior team qualification quest in Asia/Oceania
A host of nations in the Asia/Oceania region boosted their hopes of lifting team competition silverware during 2020 after navigating ITF World Junior Tennis and Junior Davis Cup and Junior Fed Cup by BNP Paribas pre-qualifying.
During a bumper fortnight of junior tennis in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, it proved a particularly successful qualifying period for Philippines, who advanced in three of the four events contested.
By winning the Junior Fed Cup pre-qualifying event and finishing as runners-up in the Junior Davis Cup equivalent, Philippines ensured they are in the mix for a place at both finals.
Their boys’ team, meanwhile, are in contention to feature at August’s ITF World Junior Tennis Finals in Prostejov – the ITF’s flagship competition in the 14-and-under age category – after triumphing in pre-qualifying.
They will now do battle in Carrara, Australia from 30 March-4 April as they bid to be among the nations descending upon Czech Republic. The girls’ final qualifying event will take place from 22-27 March, also in Carrara.
The final qualifying event for Junior Fed Cup will take place in Kuching, Malaysia from 30 March-4 April, while the equivalent stage of the Junior Davis Cup competition is to be held from 5-10 April.
In Junior Fed Cup, Philippines will be joined by Singapore, who finished as runners-up in Jakarta, and third-placed Mongolia for final qualifying, while Malaysia and Kazakhstan are their co-qualifiers in Junior Davis Cup. Malaysia were the dominant force in Jakarta and topped the podium after beating Philippines in the final.
Joining Philippines in the final qualifying event in the boys’ division of the ITF World Junior Tennis competition are Singapore and Mongolia, who finished second and third respectively in pre-qualifying. In the girls’ division, Indonesia – champions of pre-qualifying – Singapore and Sri Lanka will now compete for a chance to play on the clay of Prostejov.
The success of Philippines so far this season in junior team competition follows their girls’ team making history by reaching the ITF World Junior Tennis Finals for the first time since 1993 last year.
The ultimate aim of all nations at Junior Davis and Junior Fed Cup final qualifying is to progress to the Finals, which are being held at the US National Campus at Lake Nona in Florida for the second successive year.
Asia/Oceania can lay claim to the reigning Junior Davis Cup champions in the form of Japan, while USA topped the podium in Junior Fed Cup in 2019. This year’s competition takes place from 28 September-3 October.
Those teams prevailing from ITF World Junior Tennis final qualifying will be bidding to emulate Czech Republic and USA – the defending girls’ and boys’ champions respectively – when the Finals begin on 3 August.