The first Grade A event of the 2021 season took place in the Brazilian city of Criciuma, with China’s Juncheng Shang and Oceane Babel of France claiming the titles.
Second seed Shang defeated qualifier Miguel Gomes of Portugal 6-2 7-6(4) in the boys’ final, while Babel topped the girls’ podium courtesy of a 7-6(3) 6-4 victory over Slovakia’s Bianca Behulova.
Following Hanwen Li’s triumph at the Banana Bowl 12 months ago, it is the second successive year that a Chinese boy has triumphed in Criciuma, while a maiden Grade A title accelerates Shang’s rankings march considerably.
The tournament was the first opportunity in 2021 for junior competitors to make a statement in an event of this magnitude following the postponement of the 2021 Australian Open Junior Championships and the cancellation of JA Barranquilla amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The venue for the Grade A switched in recent years from Porto Alegre to Criciuma, but the Brazilian Grade A tournament has a rich heritage and can boast an array of future Grand Slam winners and headline acts.
Three-time Roland Garros winner Gustavo Kuerten, Andy Roddick, a US Open champion in 2003, and reigning Olympic champion Monica Puig have all topped the tournament’s podium.