[simonsaystennis]

First let me clarify, by youngster, I mean 18 and under, so born in 1994 or later. I thought this might be a fun thread, since not everyone keeps track of junior tennis or the ITF pro circuit regularly, so we can share our different insights.

Here are my 5 to watch (in no particular order):

1. Eugenie Bouchard (CAN)

Birthdate: February 25, 1994 (18 years old)

Reasons to watch: Current Junior Number 2, Junior Highlights include Wimbledon Singles and Doubles Champion; Improved senior ranking from 305 to 148; Senior highlights include a 50k and 25k title, a 50k runner up, QFs at WTA Citi Open, and R32 appearance at WTA Rogers Cup.

2. Madison Keys (USA)

Birthdate: February 17, 1995 (17 years old)

Reasons to watch: At 14, she became the 7th youngest player to win a WTA tour level match; Improved her senior ranking from 273 to 138; Highlights include: a 50k and 75k title, two 50k semifinals, a R32 appearance as a qualifier at the WTA Sony Ericsson Open.

3. Donna Vekic (CRO)

Birthdate: June 28, 1996 (16 years old)

Reasons to watch: Improved her senior ranking from 395 to 109. Youngest player to reach a WTA Final since Tamira Paszek in 2006. Junior highlights include Wimbledon QFs. Senior Highlights include: Runner up at WTA Tashkent Open, two 25k titles, three 25k runner ups, and a 100k semifinal.

4. Carina Witthoeft (GER)



Birthdate: February 16, 1995 (17 years old)

Reasons to watch: Improved her senior ranking from 413 to 222. No points to defend until April. Highlights include win over Tsvetana Pironkova in qualifying of the WTA Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, two 25k titles, one 25k runner up, and a 75k+H SF.

5. Ashleigh Barty (AUS)



Birthdate: April 24, 1996 (16 years old)

Reasons to watch: Improved her senior ranking from 679 to 183. Former junior World number 2 and Wimbledon Champion. Highlights include: a 50k win, three 25k wins, two 25k runner ups.

Honorable mentions: Laura Robson (18, WTA #53); (I didn't include her because she's been on everyone's radar since 2008 and everyone knows to keep an eye out for her in 2013 due to her strong finish in 2012); Annika Beck (18, WTA #77); Yulia Putintseva (17, WTA #125); Irina Khromacheva (17, WTA #189); Taylor Townsend (16, WTA #501, ITF Junior #1); Francoise Abanda (15, WTA #611, ITF Junior #8).

With the exception of Barty (who I haven't seen play since early 2012, so this may have changed) I picked girls with fairly big, powerful games who I think will see a lot of success with their style of play. Have fun with this thread... I'm interested to see who everyone has their eye on for the 2013 season!

[cowsonice]

I'd include Annika Beck, too.

[Barktra]

No Crawford? I think I would include her? A big and powerful game with a win over Danilldou

[Wert.]

All of these you mentioned in first post + Sharipova.

[Barktra]

Mine would be

1. Beck
2. Vekic
3. Keys
4. Crawford
5. Bocuhard

[T_P]

So many actually: Robson, Beck, Vekic, Barty, Min, Bouchard, Keys, Svitolina, Khromacheva, ...

[Trey]

My Top Youngster Girls

1. Madison Keys

2. Donna Vekic

3. Eugenie Bouchard

4. Laura Robson

5. Taylor Townsend

6. Francoise Abanda

7. Sachia Vickery

8. Irina Khromacheva

9. Daria Gavrilova

10. Indy de Vroome

[Anthony.]

I would be shocked if Keys isn't HUGE in the future

[simonsaystennis]

Originally Posted by cswab22

No Crawford? I think I would include her? A big and powerful game with a win over Danilldou

I could pick loads of USA girls to be on that list (since those are the juniors I am most familiar with), but I didn't want to seem like I was favoring one country over another. Definitely think Sam will have a good 2013.

[Viktymise]

Originally Posted by simonsaystennis

At 14, she became the 7th youngest player to win a WTA tour level match

Off-topic, but this got me thinking - has anybody got the full list of the youngest players to win a WTA tour level match? I did some quick research and made a stab at the top 5 myself but it's probably wrong...

1) Vaidisova - 13 years, 10 months
2) Capriati - 13 years, 11 months
3) MJ Fernandez - 14 years, 8 days
4) Hingis - 14 years, 1 month
5) Larcher de Brito - 14 years, 2 months

Othe players that I know won matches at 14 as well as Keys:

Seles
Kournikova
Karatantcheva
Kutuzova

[Матвей.]

Originally Posted by Viktymise

Off-topic, but this got me thinking - has anybody got the full list of the youngest players to win a WTA tour level match? I did some quick research and made a stab at the top 5 myself but it's probably wrong...

1) Vaidisova - 13 years, 11 months
2) Capriati - 13 years, 11 months
3) MJ Fernandez - 14 years, 8 days
4) Hingis - 14 years, 1 month
5) Larcher de Brito - 14 years, 2 months

Othe players that I know won matches at 14 as well as Keys:

Seles
Kournikova
Karatantcheva
Kutuzova

Where was Vaidisova's first career win?

[Viktymise]

Originally Posted by Матвей.

Where was Vaidisova's first career win?

Listed as deafeating Kurhajcova at Acapulco in March 2004 on the WTA site.

Just realised I left out Graf who was also 13 years and 11 months when she won her first WTA match at RG 83.

[simonsaystennis]

Originally Posted by Viktymise

Off-topic, but this got me thinking - has anybody got the full list of the youngest players to win a WTA tour level match? I did some quick research and made a stab at the top 5 myself but it's probably wrong...

1) Vaidisova - 13 years, 11 months
2) Capriati - 13 years, 11 months
3) MJ Fernandez - 14 years, 8 days
4) Hingis - 14 years, 1 month
5) Larcher de Brito - 14 years, 2 months

I would love to find this official data as well. The only reason why I knew the Keys stat was I remembered reading an old article from right after she won her tour level match that threw the stat around, so I did some research and found the article again. However it didn't say who was ahead of her. to Vaidisova if she tops that list. A real shame to see where her career headed though.

[The Dawntreader]

Originally Posted by Viktymise

Off-topic, but this got me thinking - has anybody got the full list of the youngest players to win a WTA tour level match? I did some quick research and made a stab at the top 5 myself but it's probably wrong...

1) Vaidisova - 13 years, 10 months
2) Capriati - 13 years, 11 months
3) MJ Fernandez - 14 years, 8 days
4) Hingis - 14 years, 1 month
5) Larcher de Brito - 14 years, 2 months

Othe players that I know won matches at 14 as well as Keys:

Seles
Kournikova
Karatantcheva
Kutuzova

Didn't Venus win her first professional match at 14 too?

Edit: Venus won her first match in Oakland in 1994, aged 14 and 4 months.

[Viktymise]

Originally Posted by simonsaystennis

I would love to find this official data as well. The only reason why I knew the Keys stat was I remembered reading an old article from right after she won her tour level match that threw the stat around, so I did some research and found the article again. However it didn't say who was ahead of her. to Vaidisova if she tops that list. A real shame to see where her career headed though.

Vaidisova was 53 days away from her 14th birthday at the beginning of Acapulco 2004, so if the stats are right I think she beats both Graf and Capriati in the age stakes.

Although, Capriati's run as a 13 year old in Boca Raton looks truly unbelievable looking back at it today, with a final and wins over two top 10 players.