Fifteen-year-old Ukrainian tennis player Polina Sklyar has concluded her performance in the group stage of the World Tennis Tour Junior Finals-2026, currently taking place in Chengdu, China. Despite a strong start and a victory in her opening match, the talented athlete from Odesa failed to qualify for the semifinals of the tournament, but will continue competing in the playoff bracket for 5th–8th places.
Strong start and fierce battles in the group stage
Polina began the tournament with a comeback victory over American tennis player Jana Preston. The Ukrainian athlete lost the first set but managed to turn the tide of the match and clinch a 3:6, 6:4, 6:4 win. In her second match, the Odesa native faced 'neutral' athlete Maria Makarova and lost in straight sets with a score of 2:6, 1:6. This defeat was particularly disappointing given their previous head-to-head encounters, as Sklyar had previously beaten Makarova in the quarterfinals of the junior Wimbledon earlier this season.
Final group match and tournament standings
In her final group fixture, the Ukrainian faced world number two junior, Czechia's Jana Kovackova. In this encounter, Polina was unable to pose a serious challenge to her formidable opponent and lost 2:6, 1:6. Following three matches, Sklyar finished third in her group, while semifinal spots went to Kovackova and Makarova.
Historical context and future prospects for the athlete
It is worth noting that the current season has been a true breakthrough for the young Odesa player, who previously reached the semifinals of junior Wimbledon, setting her personal best at Grand Slam tournaments. Furthermore, Sklyar became only the third Ukrainian female tennis player in history to compete at the junior Year-End Finals, following in the footsteps of Marta Kostyuk, who won the title in 2017, and Daria Snigur, who reached the final in 2019. On October 24, Polina will celebrate her 16th birthday and continue her campaign on the courts of Chengdu in the placement matches for 5th–8th positions.
