Burnaby tennis player Luka Vukovic has Canada in the semifinals of the international federation’s World junior finals in Prostejov, Czech Republic.
The 14-year-old Moscrop Secondary student defeated Joao Lopes Ferreira of Brazil 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 and then teamed with teammate Alex-Antoine Marquis in doubles for a 7-6, 6-1 victory over the South American pair of Mateus Pucinelli Almeida and Mateus Alves that put the Canadians into the final four with a 2-1 win over the Brazilians on Wednesday.
Canadian Nick Lagaev dropped the opening singles match against Brazil 6-4, 6-0, putting the Canadian team in a must-win situation.
Vukovic dropped his opening set 7-5 to Ferriera, but roared back in the second and third sets to send the series to a deciding rubber match in doubles.
“We all had confidence in ourselves,” said Vukovic in an ITFTennis.com press release. “We all believed that we could do it, and we did it.”
Earlier in the competition, Vukovic defeated China’s Chaokete Buyun 6-3, 6-4 in singles and again teamed with Marquis for a 6-1, 6-0 win in doubles against the People’s Republic.
Vukovic opened the world junior finals with a three-set victory over Raphael Bonnet-Flores of France, 7-6, 2-6, 6-4 on Aug. 3.
Marquis and Vukovic also teamed up for a 7-5, 6-4 win over the French doubles team.
Canada will take on top seed Korea in one semifinal on Thursday.
No. 2 seed Spain will face the United States in the other semi, with the two winners advancing to the world final.
Korea swept Argentina 3-0 in its quarter-final, while Spain got by Croatia 2-1, losing its first match of the competition in the final doubles.
The U.S. also advanced into the semifinals with Canada for the first time since 2008, downing Chinese Taipei 3-0.
In the semifinals played early Thursday morning, Korea downed Canada 3-0, while Spain also advanced to the final following a 2-1 win over the U.S.
Final placement games, including Canada versus the U.S. in the consolation final, were played Saturday
