28 July 2014 / Categories: IC of GB News, 2014 DAY 1 - IC U16 JUNIOR CHALLENGE WORLDWIDE FINALS The IC U16 Junior Challenge Worldwide Finals commenced today on the Championship courts at The All England Lawn Tennis Club. Play started at 11am with Great Britain vs Argentina, Italy vs Japan and South Africa vs USA. For full details about the event, including player and captain profiles, schedule, tournament history, welcome message from David Waite (IC of GB Chairman), a Q&A with Peter McQuibban (IC Council Chairman) and other relevant information please download a copy of the event programme. Great Britain 5 - 1 Argentina Great Britain got off to a fast start winning the four singles matches; both the boys matches were very tight with Daniel Bennett winning 7-6(4) 6-3 and Alexis Canter 11-9 in the third set tie-break. However, the Argentinian duo of Nicolas Bacella and Genaro Alberto Olivieri fought back in the doubles to beat the Brits 10-8 in another third set champions tie-break. The British girls put in a very strong performance to win all of their matches in straight sets to help secure a 5-1 victory. Match Results: BS1 Alexis Canter (GB) beat Genaro Alberto Olivieri (ARG) 6-1 4-6 [11-9] BS2 Daniel Bennett (GB) beat Nicolas Bacella (ARG) 7-6(4) 6-3 BD Canter & Bennett (GB) lost to Bacella & Olivieri (ARG) 5-7 6-2 [8-10] GS1 Eden Richardson (GB) beat Augustina Zamprogno (ARG) 6-2 6-4 GS2 Ema Lazic (GB) beat Paula Baragnano (ARG) 6-0 6-1 GD Richardson & Lazic (GB) beat Zamprogno & Baragnano (ARG) 6-1 6-3 Italy 4 - 2 Japan Italy came through two very tight matches with wins at #2 Boy and #1 Girl today. Federica Mordegan beat Momoko Kobori in the girls singles in a 10-2 third set champions tie-break and Corrado Summariva followed that up with victory over Haru Fukushima in two tie-break sets in the boys singles. Wins in the other two singles matches gave Italy and unassailable 4-0 lead. However, Japan battled hard to win both doubles matches and the match finished 4-2 overall. Match Results: BS1 Giovanni Fonio (ITA) beat Kouki Mutou (JAP) 6-4 6-2 BS2 Corrado Summariva (ITA) beat Haru Fukushima (JAP) 7-6(4) 7-6(4) BD Fonio & Summariva (ITA) lost to Mutou & Fukushima (JAP) 6-7(6) 6-0 [9-11] GS1 Federica Mordegan (ITA) beat Momoko Kobori (JAP) 1-6 6-3 [10-2] GS2 Beatrice Torelli (ITA) beat Mai Murahashi (JAP) 6-3 6-3 GD Mordegan & Torelli (ITA) lost to Zamprogno & Baragnano (JAP) 2-6 3-6 South Africa 1 - 5 USA The Barnard twins from South Africa faced tough opposition in their opening match against the USA, playing Usue Arconada and Raveena Kingsley who are ranked #30 and #64 in the ITF U18 World Rankings respectively. The match of the day was Jan Louis Martiz (SA) against Evan Zhu (USA) at boys number one singles, with the American coming through 10-5 in the third set champions tie-break. Match Results: BS1 Jan Louis Martiz (SA) lost to Evan Zhu (USA) 6-4 4-6 [5-10] BS2 Richard Thongoana (SA) beat Brian Tsao (USA) 6-1 6-1 BD Martiz & Thongoana (SA) lost to Zhu & Tsao (USA) 2-6 4-6 GS1 Lee Barnard (SA) lost to Usue Arconada (USA) 2-6 0-6 GS2 Zani Barnard (SA) lost to Raveena Kingsley (USA) 0-6 0-6 GD Barnard & Barnard (SA) lost to Arconada & Kingsley (USA) 2-6 2-6 Print 4087