Boys & Girls: 2025 U18 Junior National Championships, NTC, acrylic (Week 16)

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

RE: Boys & Girls: 2025 U18 Junior National Championships, NTC, acrylic (Week 16)

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Ps Im actually a Jon, not a John. Not that it matters. But the JonH isnt a play a John, so much as my actual name and initial. Haha.

simon381 · Lower Club Player

Hannah not involved in the upcoming W35 events. I imagine she will be studying for GCSEs and moving back to clay ready for Rolland Garros.

DavidC · Tennis legend

In the boys final Oli comfortably won the first set 6-2

DavidC · Tennis legend

Ben created opportunities to break in set 2, but Oli won nearly all the key points to run out a winner for the second consecutive year.

Boys F

(1) Oliver Bonding d. (2) Benjamin Gusic Wan 6-2 6-3

Rose · Lower Club Player

indiana wrote:
Seemed a good match from what I saw, if not a classic, maybe not helped by the wind at times.
I was impressed by Mika's feel and inventiveness when close to the net.
Different birth years but just 2 months between them, with Mika born December 2008 and Hannah born February 2009. Great prospects.

-- Edited by indiana on Friday 18th of April 2025 11:47:19 AM

Hannah is probably going to find this loss the toughest due to the small age difference of only 2 months. Previously any GB girl beating her has been 1-2 years older which has made it more acceptable. This time she has been beaten by a girl basically her own age and in her own school year

Sheddie · administrator

Yeah it's been a bit of a bizarre year for Hannah. Until last summer, on paper at least, she was by far and away the leading talent of her age group - won the Orange Bowl U18 title at just 14 and then had that incredible run in Wimbledon qualies at 15.

But at the same time, she's been steadily overshadowed and arguably overtaken by Mika, who's now won a junior slam (while Hannah's never made it past the quarters of any in singles), had her first ITF senior title, and showed her potential at the highest level, coming close to beating Uchijima in a WTA 500 in Tokyo.

Watching them today, it really felt like Mika is the brightest prospect at the moment. She's got her senior game already, big shots, a lot of power. She won this match on the front foot while Hannah seemed to be counterpunching for the most part. While Mika's struggled a bit this year, I'd still expect her to get the main draw wildcard at Wimbledon after that GS girls title, while Hannah will be trying her luck in qualies again.

Hannah does need to add a few more weapons to her game as well as a bit more consistency on the serve

Rose · Lower Club Player

Sheddie wrote:
Yeah it's been a bit of a bizarre year for Hannah. Until last summer, on paper at least, she was by far and away the leading talent of her age group - won the Orange Bowl U18 title at just 14 and then had that incredible run in Wimbledon qualies at 15.

But at the same time, she's been steadily overshadowed and arguably overtaken by Mika, who's now won a junior slam (while Hannah's never made it past the quarters of any in singles), had her first ITF senior title, and showed her potential at the highest level, coming close to beating Uchijima in a WTA 500 in Tokyo.

Watching them today, it really felt like Mika is the brightest prospect at the moment. She's got her senior game already, big shots, a lot of power. She won this match on the front foot while Hannah seemed to be counterpunching for the most part. While Mika's struggled a bit this year, I'd still expect her to get the main draw wildcard at Wimbledon after that GS girls title, while Hannah will be trying her luck in qualies again.

Hannah does need to add a few more weapons to her game as well as a bit more consistency on the serve

I saw a lot of Mika in the 14U age group and the weapons were there then, she just didnt control them very well. I recall her losing to isabelle Britton and to Tegan Bush at that age, mostly due to her own errors.

Whats interesting though is that she played 14U national events, even as a second year 14U player whilst Hannah was deemed too good and so didnt play her own age group. I think that says a lot. There is too much of a rush to move on rather than play and learn at all levels.

i would like to see the LTA only let junior players compete in their own age group and one higher in junior events, even if only in the national events. That would have meant Hannah and Mark Ceban in both the 16s and 18s and Megan Knight in the 14s and 16s. Let them have the pressure against their own age group and for it to really mean something to be a national champion. Would Meg have been champion if Hannah had played? Who knows for sure, but doubtful

Im all for juniors playing up at times - Mikas WTA win shows it works - but not at the expense of long term developmen. I think Mika has had the better programme in the early stages and its starting to show

-- Edited by Rose on Friday 18th of April 2025 02:05:20 PM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Sheddie wrote:
Yeah it's been a bit of a bizarre year for Hannah. Until last summer, on paper at least, she was by far and away the leading talent of her age group - won the Orange Bowl U18 title at just 14 and then had that incredible run in Wimbledon qualies at 15.

But at the same time, she's been steadily overshadowed and arguably overtaken by Mika, who's now won a junior slam (while Hannah's never made it past the quarters of any in singles), had her first ITF senior title, and showed her potential at the highest level, coming close to beating Uchijima in a WTA 500 in Tokyo.

Watching them today, it really felt like Mika is the brightest prospect at the moment. She's got her senior game already, big shots, a lot of power. She won this match on the front foot while Hannah seemed to be counterpunching for the most part. While Mika's struggled a bit this year, I'd still expect her to get the main draw wildcard at Wimbledon after that GS girls title, while Hannah will be trying her luck in qualies again.

Hannah does need to add a few more weapons to her game as well as a bit more consistency on the serve

I think that will very much depend on the grass form

Mika has barely won a match this year, in ITF juniors or WTA

She's a fair bit lower ranked than Hannah in WTA and today's match was practically 50:50

Also Hannah did very well on grass last year

IF Mika nails some grass results in the run-up to Wimbledon, it's possible but she's not getting a MD WC just on the back of last year's US Open result, not without some mainstream results this year

PS But, yes, I agree that her year has been far more impressive and I think a fair bit of that is thanks to Loughborough - I don't like the atmosphere at the NTC and I don't think it's the right place for Hannah

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Friday 18th of April 2025 02:09:39 PM

Rose · Lower Club Player

Coup Droit wrote:
Sheddie wrote:
Yeah it's been a bit of a bizarre year for Hannah. Until last summer, on paper at least, she was by far and away the leading talent of her age group - won the Orange Bowl U18 title at just 14 and then had that incredible run in Wimbledon qualies at 15.

But at the same time, she's been steadily overshadowed and arguably overtaken by Mika, who's now won a junior slam (while Hannah's never made it past the quarters of any in singles), had her first ITF senior title, and showed her potential at the highest level, coming close to beating Uchijima in a WTA 500 in Tokyo.

Watching them today, it really felt like Mika is the brightest prospect at the moment. She's got her senior game already, big shots, a lot of power. She won this match on the front foot while Hannah seemed to be counterpunching for the most part. While Mika's struggled a bit this year, I'd still expect her to get the main draw wildcard at Wimbledon after that GS girls title, while Hannah will be trying her luck in qualies again.

Hannah does need to add a few more weapons to her game as well as a bit more consistency on the serve
I think that will very much depend on the grass form
Mika has barely won a match this year, in ITF juniors or WTA
She's a fair bit lower ranked than Hannah in WTA and today's match was practically 50:50
Also Hannah did very well on grass last year
IF Mika nails some grass results in the run-up to Wimbledon, it's possible but she's not getting a MD WC just on the back of last year's US Open result, not without some mainstream results this year
PS But, yes, I agree that her year has been far more impressive and I think a fair bit of that is thanks to Loughborough - I don't like the atmosphere at the NTC and I don't think it's the right place for Hannah

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Friday 18th of April 2025 02:09:39 PM

I agree 100% about Loughborough v NTC. Hannah has been put on a professional pathway way too early. Shes isolated and is on a pedestal. Thats got to affect her.

Mika has had to train and work alongside others of a similar age and has had to prove herself. Shes also had the benefit of the support and friendship of them all. Thats such an important thing for a junior. Her arrival back at Loughborough after winning the US open - when the foyer was full of people clapping her as she entered - was lovely to see.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

To cut to the chase, there is a weird male vibe in the NTC too which I don't think is suitable for Hannah

I've been there several times recently

It's always full of 25 year-old sporty young guys. A few women. A few different ages. But basically it's got a young guy thing going on.

Which is fine, it's what it is.

BUT (a) either Hannah hangs out with the guys (honestly, not a great idea, even as mates, she's too young, it's just asking for trouble really), or - more likely and which is my impression:

(b) the guys have all been told, don't touch Hannah with a barge pole, she is strictly strictly off limits, you'll be out on your ear.

And so no one will go within 6 foot of her, and she's basically walking about in a little bubble as though she's got some awful infectious disease

Sheddie · administrator

Interesting and fascinating perspectives!

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Special credit to Ben Gusic Wan who, according to Martin Weston, has "a significant hand injury" but played anyway

And now we know why Oli Bonding is doing so well - he's working with a big name French coach

Oli has been the stand-out performer all week. He made very few unforced errors today. He is working with experienced French coach Arnaud Agniel and they are an impressive team. A lot of good things are coming together for Oli. Hes grown into his body, he is moving well and his game is in good shape. I was proud of both boys today.

Agniel used to coach Mannarino and Mahut - which is impressive in that they had completely different games

www.lta.org.uk/news/mika-stojsavljevic-and-oliver-bonding-win-2025-18u-lexus-junior-national-championships-titles/

the addict · Tennis legend

Article in The Times by Stuart Fraser about Mika and Hannah

https://archive.ph/6lulk

Mervatron2 · Challenger qualifying

Well done to Ollie and Mika.

Gutted for Hannah but still, gives her something to work towards.

To think when I started following British tennis 25 years ago bar Tim and Greg there was nothing to be excited about but now all across the game we have all sorts to be exited for.