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The 2019 Under 16 Rogers Outdoor Junior Nationals came to a close on Saturday as titles in the boy’s and girl’s singles and doubles events were claimed. Taking place on the courts of Les Internationaux de Tennis de Gatineau in Quebec, the tournament concluded with second seed Jaden Weekes (QC) being crowned the boy’s singles champion and fifth seed Danielle Tuhten (BC) winning the girl’s singles title.
After top seed Maxime St-Hilaire of Quebec had been knocked out in the third round by Ange-Kevin Koua, also of Quebec, the boy’s singles final was contested by Weekes and third seed Christophe Clement (QC). Despite Clement not dropping a single set on route to the final, it was Weekes that came out on top thanks to a routine 6-2, 6-4 victory.
There was double disappointment for St-Hilaire and Clement (No. 1) as they lost the doubles final 6-3, 6-2 to the unseeded pairing of William Bartram (ON) and Jayden Templeman (ON), who progressed from their semi-final following the retirement of second seeds Stefan Simeunovic (ON) and Weekes.
There was also an upset in the girl’s singles final, where Tuhten overcame second seed Kayla Alexandra Cross of Ontario 6-3, 6-3. However, Tuhten’s performance did not come without warning after she had convincingly dispatched top seed Annabelle Xu of Quebec in the quarter-finals with an impressive 6-3, 6-4 victory.
The tabled were turned in the girl’s doubles final, though, where Xu and Alexandra Cross (No. 1) teamed up to beat second seeds Tuhten and partner Reece Carter, of Manitoba, 6-4, 6-3. In fact, Xu and Alexandra Cross dropped just 11 games throughout the tournament on their way to claiming the title.
(Feature photo: Roger Lauzon)
