Serbia Under-18 women win European tennis title

Serbia won the European Under-18 women's team tennis title in Granville. Anastasija Cvetkovic, Dusica Popovski and Lana Virc completed an unbeaten final tournament under coach Lana Spremo.

The Serbian team defeated Hungary 2-0 in the final. Virc won the opening singles match, and Cvetkovic secured the title with another three-set victory.

Virc gave Serbia the first point

Lana Virc faced Luca Kalman in the opening match. The Serbian player controlled the first set and won it with only one game lost. Kalman responded in the second set and levelled the match. Virc then recovered her earlier rhythm and took the deciding set with a clear margin. Her 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 victory placed Serbia one point from the title. It also removed pressure from the second singles match.

Virc remained composed after losing the middle set. She returned to longer rallies and waited for a suitable ball before changing direction. The final set showed the value of that patience. Virc reduced her unforced mistakes and prevented Kalman from building another comeback.

Anastasija Cvetkovic won the second singles match

Anastasija Cvetkovic met Luiza Beviz in the second singles match. Their opening set remained close and required a tie-break. Beviz took that tie-break, but Cvetkovic answered immediately. The Serbian player improved her return position and won the second set 6-1. Cvetkovic carried the same control into the final set. She did not lose another game and completed a 6-7, 6-1, 6-0 victory.

The result gave Serbia an unbeatable 2-0 lead. A doubles match was no longer required to determine the European champion. Cvetkovic had to manage frustration after losing a narrow first set. Her response was calm, direct and decisive across the remaining games.

A Serbian junior player competes during an international tennis match.

Serbia beat Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Hungary

Serbia reached the final after victories over Bulgaria and the Czech Republic. Both ties also ended 2-0 after the singles matches. Serbia secured every tie through its two singles matches. The players delivered six straight singles victories across three rounds. The players still prepared for every possible doubles contest. Team events require all three members to remain ready until the winning point is secured.

Dusica Popovski contributed during qualification before suffering a finger injury. She remained part of the team throughout the final stage in France. Coach Lana Spremo managed the line-up around that injury. Cvetkovic and Virc then delivered the required points during all three knockout ties.

The title belongs to the full team

European team competitions test more than one strong player. A successful group needs several options, clear preparation and support between matches. Serbia received important work from all three players during the campaign. Popovski helped the team reach the finals, while Cvetkovic and Virc finished the knockout rounds. Spremo guided the group through changing opponents and match conditions. Her players then made the decisions on court during several demanding three-set contests.

The final against Hungary included two different challenges. Virc recovered after losing the second set, and Cvetkovic responded after losing the first. Those two recoveries defined Serbia's path to the European title. The team left Granville as European champion after three straight knockout victories.

Serbia qualified for the European final in Granville

Serbia first had to earn a place in the European final tournament. Popovski contributed during that stage before the finger problem limited her later availability. The qualifying work belongs to the same title campaign. Without those earlier points, Cvetkovic and Virc would not have reached the knockout event in France.

Spremo kept three players involved even after the injury changed her choices. Popovski supported the active singles players and remained available if her condition improved. Team tennis often places that responsibility away from the public court. Preparation, scouting and support continue even when one player cannot begin a match.

Both Serbian players recovered after losing the first set

Virc lost momentum after a dominant opening set. She stopped Kalman's response by rebuilding longer points rather than searching for an immediate winner. Cvetkovic faced the opposite score pattern. She lost a tie-break first, then allowed Beviz only one game across the final two sets.

These matches demanded different technical answers but the same emotional control. Neither Serbian player allowed one lost set to decide the next. Serbia therefore won the final through two successful recoveries. The 2-0 team score looks simple, while each singles match contained a difficult change in momentum.

Serbia won all three knockout matches

Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Hungary presented different players across three rounds. Serbia answered each tie with the same final team score. Cvetkovic and Virc carried the singles responsibility after Popovski's injury. Together they won every Serbian point during the three ties.

The record also shows the value of preparation between rounds. Spremo had to study a new opponent while helping both players recover from the previous day. Serbia completed that process three times and won every required singles point. The title followed consistent work rather than one isolated final performance.