Opinions & Interviews

The young Belarusian said she was very happy to win, although at first it was difficult to assess the situation with all those overwhelming emotions. Vera Lapko added that she felt the support from home and thanked the Belarusian Tennis Federation and sponsors who assist her in the preparation for tournaments.

17-year-old Vera Lapko became the second Belarusian tennis player to win the Australian Open Junior Championships. She followed in the footsteps of 16-year-old Victoria Azarenka who claimed the champion title on the Melbourne Park courts in 2005. Azarenka won the Australian Open twice after that, in 2012 and 2013, and also was the world number one.

Vera Lapko reached the Wimbledon Junior doubles final in 2015 and the US Open final in 2014.

Apart from Victoria Azarenka and Vera Lapko, three more Belarusians were Grand Slam Junior winners. Natalia Zvereva was the first to achieve such a success. She holds two Wimbledon titles (1986, 1987) and one US Open title (1987). Vladimir Volchkov won the Wimbledon Junior 1996. Vladimir Ignatik triumphed at the 2007 French Open (juniors) in Paris.

According to the Belarusian Tennis Federation, Vera Lapko has headed for Canada’s Quebec to join the Belarusian national team ahead of away matches of the first round of the 2016 Federation Cup World Group II against Canada. Apart from her, the team will comprise Victoria Azarenka, Olga Govortsova and Alexandra Sasnovich. The matches will take place in Quebec, Canada on 6-7 February.