The Player of the Year powered by Polar award is given to three best-performing European players in the 14 and 16 & Under age categories of the Tennis Europe Junior Tour according to the final Race to Junior Masters ranking of the season.
Over the years, the award has proven to be a reliable indicator of future success, with former recipients including many of today’s top players, including stars such as Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Marin Cilic, Gael Monfils, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin.
The 2014 14 & Under winners are listed below:
Boys 14 & Under
1. Tomas Jirousek (CZE)
Runner-up at the European Junior Championships, Jirousek racked up three singles and three doubles titles from his 14 events during the season and helped his country reach the final rounds of both the Winter and Summer Cups. He becomes the first Czech 14&U boy to end the season at #1 since Dusan Lojda in 2002.
2. Alen Avidzba (RUS)
Avidzba started the season strongly, winning the Category 1 Khimki tournament, and was incredibly consistent after that, reaching the final of 5 of his 6 other tournaments, including both the Winter and Summer Cups.
3. Rudolf Molleker (GER)
European Champion Molleker won four events, and led his country to sweep the team titles for the first time in over 20 years. He also reached the final of both 16 & Under events he played, and won the doubles silver medal at the European Championships.
Girls 14 & Under
1. Anastasia Potapova (RUS)
Heading a first-ever all-Russian list of players of the year, European Champion Potapova was the clear #1 player of the season. She won 6 singles and 5 doubles titles, including the Junior Masters, Winter Cups and three other Category 1 titles, including her first 16 & Under tournament win (Renningen/Rutesheim). Not bad for a player that will still be eligible to play 14 & Under events in 2015!
2. Olesya Pervushina (RUS)
With a 34-5 win/loss record, Pervushina’s impressive season included back-to-back Category 1 titles at Stockholm and Tim Essonne, gold (doubles) and silver (singles) medals at the European Championships, playing on Russia’s winning Winter Cups team and winning the only 16 & Under event in which she played; in singles and doubles.
3. Tatiana Makarova (RUS)
Having also featured on the formidable winning Russian Winter Cups team, Makarova went on to win four singles titles (including the 16&U Barcelona event) as well as proving to be a force in doubles, with an additional four titles.