Testing Herself in the U14 Age Group

In a few months, Charlotte will move into the U14 age group, where the level of competition becomes significantly stronger. To help prepare for this transition, we recently entered a Tennis Europe U14 Category 3 tournament held in Denmark.

For us, this was a perfect “two birds with one stone” opportunity. First, the tournament was played close to home, which meant minimal travel and very little time away from school. Second, the overall level of the tournament was manageable, as the majority of the players were local Danish U14 competitors. Last but not least, it was a very cost-effective way to gain valuable international tournament experience.

First Round: A Tough Battle Against Kaya Fiona Sondørf

In her opening match, Charlotte faced Kaya Fiona Søndørf from Denmark, who is currently ranked No. 29 in Denmark’s U14 girls rankings.

Charlotte had a nervous start. Her serve was not as reliable as usual, so she chose to play it safe and focus on getting a high percentage of first serves into play. Kaya proved to be a very consistent opponent, making it difficult for Charlotte to find openings and build momentum.

The first set turned into a closely fought battle. Charlotte stayed focused, fought for every point, and eventually edged out the set in a tiebreak, winning 7-5.

Winning the opening set gave her confidence, and she carried that momentum into the second set. Charlotte established a 4-2 lead and appeared to be in control. However, she began to lose some patience during the longer rallies, allowing Kaya opportunities to work her way back into the match.

Despite the pressure, Charlotte managed to keep her fighting spirit high. She stayed positive, regrouped, and closed out the match 6-4 in the second set.

It was a very encouraging performance that highlighted her determination, resilience, and growing confidence on court.

Second Round: Facing a Stronger Opponent

In the second round, Charlotte met eighth seed Alisa Lokot from Sweden.

From the beginning, it was clear that Alisa was a step ahead physically, moving faster around the court and generating more power from both sides. Charlotte competed well and continued to fight for every point, but she struggled to handle the pace and intensity of her opponent’s game.

Although the scoreline ended in a 1-6, 1-6 defeat, it was a valuable learning experience and a good indication of the level she will increasingly encounter when she moves into the U14 category full-time.

Moving up to U14 will be a big step, but tournaments like this give Charlotte a chance to test herself against older and stronger players. Every match provides valuable lessons, and we are excited to continue the journey and see how she develops over the coming months.

Read also our post on logo size requirement for Tennis Europe Tournament.