As Heroes of War by Jane Antonia Cornish and Daniel Heath boomed out, Russia stood to great applause and made their way to the stage to collect their medals and Junior Davis Cup by BNP Paribas trophy.

For Yaroslav Demin, Maxim Zhukov and Danil Panarin the final battle in their quest to be crowned champions had been won some time earlier following victory over No. 2 seeds and much-fancied France.

Unseeded Russia have been in sparkling form since losing their opening showdown of the week against Mexico and have lost just a solitary match – the doubles against Bulgaria in a tie already won – since.

Demin, meanwhile, has proven himself to be something of a star, winning all six singles matches he has contested, while also seemingly being the man for the big occasion and when his nation really needs him.

Just as he did in the semi-final against Argentina’s Juan Esteves, the 16-year-old recovered from a set down to beat France’s Gabriel Debru, who sits 96 places above him in the junior world rankings.

Demin’s heroics paved the way for Zhukov to showcase his own considerable talent and he duly obliged, defeating Antoine Ghibaudo in straights sets to hand Russia their third Junior Davis Cup title and first since 2016.

Achieved in front of the watching Shamil Tarpischev, the President of the Russian Tennis Federation and the nation's Davis Cup captain, Demin revelled in Russia’s victory march.

“Junior Davis Cup champion sounds so, so good,” Demin told itftennis.com. “The first day we were so sad because we lost our first tie, and we had a meeting at dinner where our coach told us to fight until the end. From there, we started to play our game and we did fight.

“I think the way I play suits having to fight. Initially today, it was extremely tough but towards the end of the first set, even though I was losing, I fought and that helped me going into the second.

“I started to play my game and suddenly things started to feel really good. Everything felt really good, my drop shot in particular, and I managed to win. Then, my friend [Zhukov] won and now we know what it feels like to be a Junior Davis Cup champion.”

There was a level of confidence within the Russian camp all week and at one stage it looked as though they could become just the fourth nation to win both Junior Davis Cup and Junior Billie Jean King Cup in the same year.

Had that eventuality played out, they would have been the first nation to do so since the United States in 2014, but their girls’ team succumbing to Japan in the semi-finals yesterday put paid to that possibility.

Demin, who ended 2020 ranked No. 703 in the junior world rankings but now stands at No. 139, remarked yesterday that in the years to come, he would love nothing more than Russia’s captain to say to his team, ‘the boys of 2021 won, so must you’.

With Russia’s boys’ team topping the podium at the ITF World Junior Tennis Finals in Prostejov in August, Demin’s prophecy could well come true, while junior tennis within his nation would appear strong. Zhukov certainly believes so.

“I am feeling impossible feelings right now, it is crazy,” Zhukov told itftennis.com. “For our country, it is very good. We have only won this tournament once in recent times and even that was five years ago, but for the future we have some very good players, so we will see.”

For captain Ivan Pridankin, this was his third Junior Davis Cup Finals and, while his previous teams have included the likes of Grand Slam champion Daniil Medvedev and fellow top five player Andrey Rublev, this was his first title.

“This is a big step for the boys in their careers,” Pridankin told itftennis.com. “This is my third Junior Davis Cup Finals and, in many ways, I cannot believe it has happened. I am really proud of the boys.

“This can be a big step in their careers and I hope they push on from here. For now, this win is for the whole team – personal coaches and doctors – as it has been a big effort from everyone.”

Early in proceedings, a Russia victory seemed a distant thought as Debru stormed into a commanding 5-1 lead in the first set, and despite a late rally from Demin, he still managed to post a 6-3 success.

From there, however, the tide began to turn and Demin showed what a plucky character he his, blitzing his way to a 4-1 lead of his own before levelling matters with some comfort.

In the third set, Debru simply had no answer, with his rival in total control from beginning to end and finishing matters with a break of serve to win 3-6 6-3 6-1.

In essence, that clash set the tone and from this moment the writing appeared to be on the wall. Zhukov, who claimed two junior titles in 2020 and is ranked No. 82 in the world, was unrelenting.

A clinical opening set gave way to an even more dominant second as the 16-year-old dispatched Ghibaudo 6-1 6-3 to send Russia and their travelling band of supporters into rapture. The celebrations, in effect, said it all.

Junior Davis Cup

Final placings:

1. Russia; 2. France; 3. Mexico; 4. Argentina; 5. Czech Republic; 6. Japan; 7. Germany; 8. Canada; 9. Brazil; 10. Bulgaria; 11. Turkey; 12. Korea, Republic; 13. Chile; 14. Egypt; 15. Hong Kong; 16. Tunisia