ITF Junior circuit 2023 India

[sameerph]

15 year old Arnav Paparkar continues to shine this week in Pune J100, he thrashed 4th seed from Japan 61 61 to make it to the SF. Arnav had emerged as champion at under 14 Asia Pacific tournament held on sidelines of Australian open in January this year and I had marked him as one to watch. But, he had played only 1 ITF junior tournament this year before this week. This week he is again back showing his talent. He meets second seed Krish Tyagi in an all Indian SF. Last week's runner up to Rethin from Japan meets the French boy who beat Rethin this week in the other SF. '

2 Indians in girls SF too. Top seed Maaya continues her run with a 62 64 win over Slovakian 7th seed and last week's runner up Laxmisiri Dandu beats Diya Ramesh to make the SF. Maaya against 11th seeded Kazak and Laxmisiri against 2nd seeded Iranian in the other SF.

[jayakris]

Arnav seems to have spent some time at the Soto Tennis Academy in Spain earlier this year. He also seems to be quite tall in the photos, by age 14. Looks like somebody to watch for, indeed.

It is nice to see Laxmi Siri doing well too.

[sameerph]

Arnav continues his good work by beating second seed Kriish Tyagi 36 63 63. He will meet 14 year old French kid Moise Kouame in the final. Kouame has beaten Rethin and Aarjun this week.

Girls final will be an all Indian one. Maaya is yet to drop a set this week, won 63 76(5) in the SF against 11th seeded Kazak and Laxmisiri Dandu beats second seeded Iranian in 3 sets.

[jayakris]

Gogulina was the last player to beat Maaya in India in the ITFs, at the SF and R2 of the J30s in Gurugram and Dehradun in March this year, both times in 3 sets. Now she has taken her out in straight sets. After that loss it has been 14 wins in a row where he has dropped only ONE set, in India. Including 10 straight sets wins in the Malaysia J60s, Maaya is now on a 24-0 streak with 23 straight sets wins in the J60 and J100 levels.

Including two three-set losses to top-100 seventeen year olds at the J200 and J300 in Malaysia and Thailand, she is 28-2 in the last 5 months. That is 58 of 63 sets won in that period.

Clearly the most impressive start we may have ever had from any Indian girl at age 14, including Sania.

[sameerph]

Maaya won in 3 sets 64 26 63 in the final to continue her winning streak.

Arnav Paparkar lost 36 36 against French kid who seems to have run into hot form this week.

[sameerph]

With 40 extra points from this week and about 7 extra from doubles, Maaya will move up to around 185 in the ITF junior rankings on Monday, She will mostly be 5th highest among girls born in 2009.

Clearly the most impressive start we may have ever had from any Indian girl at age 14, including Sania.

Just saw Sania's stats at same age which was in 2001 ( she turned 14 in November 2000), Sania won 3 grade 4 titles in early 2021, same level as J60 now of which Maaya has won 4 in last 3 months. Sania won J3 title in July 2021 when she was about couple of months older than when Maaya is right now when she won a similar level tournament today. Sania reached a SF and QF of grade 2 tournaments in February 2001, Maaya reached QF of grade 2 and R3 of J300 last month. So, Maaya is about the same level as Sania at same age. Next year is critical for Maaya to take the next step. If Maaya starts going deep (SF or so) at J300 events at least in Asia and makes grand slam main draws by mid next year, she is same territory as Sania at that age.

[jayakris]

Thanks for checking, Sameer. I couldn't remember that Sania had won just about as many similar events by the same age. But Sania did not have such a dominating win streak (like 29-2 in matches and 60-6 in sets) by this age though. Sania had a few losses in between those titles. She had more inconsistency in her game and had a few straight-set 2-6 3-6 type losses too then. For the same reason, many of her wins were 3 set wins as well, but Maaya has been literally smashing people off the courts in straight sets.

Also, kudos to Laxmisiri for taking a set off Maaya. Only the second set taken from her by an Indian in this 29-2 streak.

[jayakris]

Next year is critical for Maaya to take the next step. If Maaya starts going deep (SF or so) at J300 events at least in Asia and makes grand slam main draws by mid next year, she is same territory as Sania at that age.

I think she will be about #140 in the junior ranks at the start of 2024 after the players born in 2005 leave the rank list. She has two nicely-timed Indian J200s in Delhi and Kolkata on Jan 8th and 15th at Delhi and Kolkata, where I assume she will win at least one title, probably picking up at least an extra 240 points to move up to around #75. Or she may win both titles for all we know (she will be among at least the top-4 seeds if not top-2) and move up inside top-60. I am assuming that she may skip the Chandigarh J100 on Jan 2nd, as she cannot make too many extra points there. Or she could play Chandigarh and Delhi, win two titles, and skip Kolkata to go play the AO juniors qualies starting on Jan 17th.

Basically she is almost sure to make it into the FO, Wimbledon and USO juniors main draws next year.

[sameerph]

If she is makes it to Australian open juniors qualifying entry list, I think Maaya will go there. Lets see in that case, if she also goes for J300 in Australian a week before. But, that would mean missing out both J200's in India. Since Maaya is yet to win a J200 level tournament, I think she should play at least Delhi J200 and than if she makes it to AO qualies go there and try her hand against tougher opposition. It will be tough decision to make for her team especially if she is touch and go for AO qualies .

[tereit]

this year it is very interesting to follow the players

[prasen9]

Welcome to the forum tereit. Let us know why you are interested in following which players this year.