Experienced international competitors and first-timers are among a squad of 11 English youngsters heading to the WTT Youth Contender Vila Real, which starts on Tuesday in Portugal.
Kacper Piwowar (pictured above), Abraham Sellado, Max Radiven and Isaac Kingham need no introduction to WTT events, having competed extensively – and each won medals – on the WTT circuit.
They all compete at the Under-19 Boys’ category in Portugal, with all but Kingham also in the Under-17s. Piwowar is the highest-ranked English player, at No 147 on the Junior world list.
Ella Pashley is also no stranger to WTT tournaments, including at the lofty level of WTT Star Contender London where, like Sellado, Piwowar and Radiven, she competed last October.
She is in the Under-19 Girls’ category, where she is joined by Rachael Iles, at her first WTT event. Iles has, however, appeared internationally before now, including at the Home Nations Championships last November.
Theo Kniep and Lusio Wen add to their WTT experience in the Under-15 Boys’ category – Kniep is also in the Under-17s, while Wen is in the Under-13s too.
Bethany Yang makes her first WTT appearance – though she has competed at the Euro Minis and is due to represent England at the Primary Schools International in April. She is in the Under-13 and Under-15 Girls’ Singles.
The squad is completed by debutant brothers Stefan and Ignacy Wierszyllowksi, who both compete in the Under-11 and Under-13 Boys’ Singles.
There are also three pairs involving English players competing in the Under-19 Mixed Doubles, where Kingham is partnering Hannah Silcock of Jersey and could meet Radiven & Iles in the second round. Sellado & Pashley are the other pair in the draw.
Draws
Under-19 Boys’ SIngles
Qualifying group 4
Isaac Kingham
Luca Khidasheli (ESP)
Hugo Lapina (FRA)
Qualifying group 18
Max Radiven
Lowis Vogler (SUI)
Thijmen Bos (NED)
Qualifying group 19
Kacper Piwowar
Victor Bartholomaeussen (DEN)
Yali Mor (ISR)
Qualifying group 22
Abraham Sellado
Alvaro Gimeno (ESP)
Francisco Donoso (CHI)
Under-19 Girls’ Singles
Qualifying group 1
Ella Pashley
Maria Berzosa (ESP)
Beatriz Pinto (POR)
Qualifying group 8
Rachael Iles
Elise Pujol (FRA)
Renata Shypsha (ESP)
Under-17 Boys’ Singles
Qualifying group 3
Theo Kniep
Dario Salcedo (ESP)
Rodrigo Andrade (POR)
Qualifying group 7
Kacper Piwowar
Franco Aufiero (ARG)
Dinis Ye (POR)
Qualifying group 10
Abraham Sellado
Joao Vieira (POR)
Emil Hasselbalch (DEN)
Qualifying group 14
Max Radiven
Simao Duarte (POR)
Marcos Gomez (ESP)
Under-15 Boys’ Singles
Qualifying group 4
Lusio Wen
Joseph Sebatindira (UGA)
Duarte Silva (POR)
Qualifying group 13
Theo Kniep
Martim Rodrigues (POR)
Owen Shemesh (PUR)
Sergio Munoz (ESP)
Under-15 Girls’ Singles
Qualifying group 10
Bethany Yang
Finja Hansen (LUX)
Esther Hasek (ESP)
Lara Monteiro (POR)
Under-13 Boys’ Singles
Qualifying group 9
Lusio Wen
Lourenco Sena (POR)
Junior Aruna (NGR)
Qualifying group 10
Ignacy Wierszyllowski
Lucas Alto (ARG)
Rodrigo Lourenco (POR)
Qualifying group 11
Stefan Wierszyllowski
Vicente Cardoso (POR)
Gabriel Tramonti (FRA)
Julian Alto (ARG)
Under-13 Girls’ Singles
Qualifying group 3
Bethany Yang
Leonor Sousa (POR)
Leonor Ascenco (POR)
Under-11 Boys’ Singles
Qualifying group 1
Ignacy Wierszyllowski
Valentino Alto (ARG)
Boris Costa (POR)
Daniel Dias (POR)
Lourenco Sena (POR)
Qualifying group 2
Stefan Wierszyllowski
Junior Aruna (NGR)
Joao Carneiro (POR)
Abel Freitas (POR)
Rodrigo Morais (POR)
Under-19 Mixed Doubles
Round of 32
Isaac Kingham & Hannah Silcock (JEY) v Bernardo Antunes & Paula Camero (POR)
Max Radiven & Rachael Iles v Nathan Doussinet (FRA) & Elinor Davidov (ISR)
Abraham Sellado & Ella Pashley v Carlos Goncalves & Mariana Santa (POR)