Graham & Perry Celebrate English European Junior Championship Double

Exactly ten years after last winning both titles, England are celebrating a notable double at the European Junior U19 Championships after 5/8 seed Anthony Graham clinched the men's crown and favourite Sarah-Jane Perry secured the women's trophy in the flagship European Squash Federation junior event in Germering, Germany.

Graham, the British Junior U19 champion from Gloucestershire, is competing in the event for the first time - only days before his 19th birthday next Monday!

The Wycliffe College student made his breakthrough in the quarter-finals when he toppled Finland's top seed Henrik Mustonen - before going on to deny the hosts representation in the final by beating Germany's Raphael Kandra in the semis.

His opponent Lucas Serme, also a 5/8 seed, had battled for five games in both his previous rounds - upsetting second seed Sam van Brusselen, from Belgium, in the quarter-finals.

But Graham was too strong for the Frenchman in the final, winning 11-9, 12-10, 11-6 in 40 minutes to become the tenth English winner of the men's title - joining a distinguished group which includes Peter Marshall, Paul Johnson, Lee Beachill, Adrian Grant and James Willstrop.

After reaching the quarter-finals two years ago, then the semis in 2008, it was fitting that Sarah-Jane Perry should make the final at her third attempt. The 18-year-old from Kenilworth led the event's first ever semi-final line-up from a single country - but took four games to get past 9/16 seed Julianne Courtice before facing fellow countrywoman Millie Tomlinson in the final.

Tomlinson, a 5/8 seed from Duffield in Derbyshire, stunned second-seeded compatriot Kimberley Hay in the other semi-final before lining up against Perry in the final.

The 16-year-old drew level after Perry won the opening game - but thereafter the top seed took control as Perry powered her way through to an 11-5, 5-11, 11-5, 11-7 victory to capture the title.

Perry, the first Englishwoman to win since 2003, also joins a select group of former champions from her home country, including Cassie Jackman, Tania Bailey and Jenny Duncalf.

The players now refocus for the European Junior U19 Team Championships in which defending champions England have been named top seeds. The favourites are expected to meet hosts Germany, the second seeds, in Sunday's final.

Men's final:
[5/8] Anthony Graham (ENG) bt [5/8] Lucas Serme (FRA) 11-9, 12-10, 11-6 (40m)

Women's final:
[1] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt [5/8] Millie Tomlinson (ENG) 11-5, 5-11, 11-5, 11-7