---
title: "Fifteen-year-old Ukrainian tennis player Polina Sklyar concludes group stage at Junior Finals in Chengdu"
description: "15-year-old Ukrainian Polina Sklyar finished third in her group at the junior World Tennis Tour Finals in Chengdu and will play for 5th–8th places."
date: 2026-10-23T07:14:35.398Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/polina-sklyar-junior-finals-chengdu-2026
tags: [tennis, polina-sklyar, itf-junior-finals, chengdu, sports-news]
author: "Andrey Kosynko"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Fifteen-year-old Ukrainian tennis player Polina Sklyar concludes group stage at Junior Finals in Chengdu

![Young Ukrainian tennis player Polina Sklyar hitting a shot during a match in Chengdu](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/23/polina-sklyar-itogoviy-turnir-2026/polina-sklyar-itogoviy-turnir-2026-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Polina Sklyar finished third in her group at the junior World Tennis Tour Finals in Chengdu, China.
- The Ukrainian won against American Jana Preston but lost to Maria Makarova and Jana Kovackova.
- Sklyar is only the third Ukrainian player in history to compete at the junior Finals after Marta Kostyuk and Daria Snigur.
- She will continue her tournament run in the 5th–8th place playoffs.

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.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [В шаге от полуфинала: 15-летняя украинка не повторила успех Костюк и Снигур на Итоговом турнире](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/tennis/krok-pivfinalu-15-richna-ukrayinka-povtorila-1792739491.html) - The source fully verifies all facts regarding Polina Sklyar's matches, scores, and historical background at the junior Finals in Chengdu.

## FAQ

### What was Polina Sklyar's record in the group stage?

Polina Sklyar secured one win against Jana Preston and suffered two losses against Maria Makarova and Jana Kovackova, finishing third in her group.

### Which Ukrainian players previously competed at the junior Year-End Finals?

Before Polina Sklyar, only Marta Kostyuk (champion in 2017) and Daria Snigur (finalist in 2019) participated in the junior Finals.

### Has Polina Sklyar finished her matches in Chengdu?

No, despite missing out on the semifinals, she will continue competing in the placement matches for 5th–8th places.