Rosner & Serme In Record-Breaking European Junior Title Triumphs

History was made in the 17th European Junior U19 Championships in Langnau, Switzerland, when Simon Rosner became the first German to win the men's title and Camille Serme the first French player to triumph in the women's event.

English defeats in both finals also led to the first occasion since 1992 that neither European title was claimed a player from England.

Simon Rosner had beaten surprise opponent Joel Hinds twice before in European Junior Team competitions since 2002 - and only last month defeated the Derbyshire 18-year-old in the English Premier League.

After finishing as runner-up twelve months ago, the 18-year-old top seed from Wurzburg made sure of going one better in Langnau by beating Hinds, a 3/4 seed, 9-6, 9-4, 9-2 to take the title for the first time.

England's British Junior National champion Rachel Willmott was unable to reproduce the form which saw her fight back from two games down to beat Germany's Pamela Hathway in the women's semi-finals.

Favourite Camille Serme, 17, was too strong for the second seed from Sussex - who is also 17 - winning 9-3 9-0 9-2. The victory marks the first win by a French woman - one step better than compatriot Isabelle Stoehr who was runner-up in 1998.

Men's final:
[1] Simon Rosner (GER) bt [3/4] Joel Hinds (ENG) 9-6, 9-4, 9-2

Women's final:
[1] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [2] Rachel Willmott (ENG) 9-3, 9-0, 9-2