Experienced international competitors and debutants are among a squad of eleven English youngsters heading to the WTT Youth Contender Vila Real, which starts in Portugal on Tuesday.
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 in the Under-19 Boys category in Portugal, with all but Kingham also competing in the Under-17s. Piwowar is the highest ranked English player, at number 147 on the Junior world list.
Ella Pashley is also no stranger to WTT tournaments, including at the exalted level of WTT Star Contender London, where she, like Sellado, Piwowar and Radiven, competed last October.
She is in the under-19 girls category, where she will be joined by Rachael Iles in her first WTT event. However, Iles has performed internationally before, 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-17 class, while Wen is also in the Under-13 class.
Bethany Yang makes her first WTT appearance, although she has competed in the Euro Minis and will represent England at the Primary Schools International in April. She participates in the girls’ singles under 13 and under 15 years.
The team is completed by debutante brothers Stefan and Ignacy Wierszyllowksi, who both compete in the Boys Singles Under 11 and Under 13.
There are also three pairs of English players competing in the Under-19 Mixed Doubles, where Kingham will team up with Hannah Silcock from Jersey and could meet Radiven & Iles in the second round. Sellado & Pashley are the other duo in the draw.
Pulls
Singles for boys under 19 years old
Qualification group 4
Isaac Koningham
Luca Khidasheli (ESP)
Hugo Lapina (fra)
Qualification group 18
Max Radiven
Lowis Vogler (SUI)
Thijmen Bos (NED)
Qualification group 19
Kacper Piwowar
Victor Bartholomaeussen (DEN)
Yali Mor (ISR)
Qualification group 22
Abraham sealed
Alvaro Gimeno (ESP)
Francisco Donoso (CHI)
Girls singles under 19 years old
Qualification group 1
Ella Pashley
Maria Berzosa (ESP)
Beatriz Pinto (POR)
Qualification group 8
Rachel Iles
Elise Pujol (FRA)
Renata Shypsha (ESP)
Boys singles under 17 years old
Qualification group 3
Theo Kniep
Dario Salcedo (ESP)
Rodrigo Andrade (POR)
Qualification group 7
Kacper Piwowar
Franco Aufiero (ARG)
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Qualification group 10
Abraham sealed
Joao Vieira (POR)
Emil Hasselbalch (DEN)
Qualification group 14
Max Radiven
Simao Duarte (POR)
Marcos Gomez (ESP)
Boys singles under 15 years old
Qualification group 4
Lusio Wen
Joseph Sebatindira (UGA)
Duarte Silva (POR)
Qualification group 13
Theo Kniep
Martim Rodrigues (POR)
Owen Shemesh (PUR)
Sergio Munoz (ESP)
Girls singles under 15 years old
Qualification group 10
Bethany Yang
Finja Hansen (LUX)
Esther Hasek (ESP)
Lara Monteiro (POR)
Singles for boys under 13 years old
Qualification group 9
Lusio Wen
Lourenco Sena (POR)
Junior Aruna (NGR)
Qualification group 10
Ignacy Wierszylowski
Lucas Alt (ARG)
Rodrigo Lourenco (POR)
Qualification group 11
Stefan Wierszylowski
Vicente Cardoso (POR)
Gabriel Tramonti (FRA)
Julian Alt (ARG)
Singles for girls under 13
Qualification group 3
Bethany Yang
Leonor Sousa (POR)
Leonor Ascenco (POR)
Singles for boys under 11 years old
Qualification group 1
Ignacy Wierszylowski
Valentino Alto (ARG)
Boris Costa (POR)
Daniel Dias (POR)
Lourenco Sena (POR)
Qualification group 2
Stefan Wierszylowski
Junior Aruna (NGR)
Joao Carneiro (POR)
Abel Freitas (POR)
Rodrigo Morais (POR)
Mixed doubles under 19 years
Round of 32
Isaha Koning & Hannahah Silcock (JEY)
Radive & Race & Rachel Iles v Nath Sweeth (FRA) & Elinor David (ISR)
Abraham Sellado & Ella Pashley vs. Carlos Goncalves & Mariana Santa (POR)
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