Mia Pohankova Secures Wimbledon Girls' Title, Continues Slovak Legacy

WIMBLEDON, England — In a remarkable display of talent and composure, unseeded Mia Pohankova of Slovakia triumphed over sixth-seeded Julieta Pareja, clinching the Wimbledon girls' singles title with a commanding 6-3, 6-1 victory on July 12, 2025. This win marks the second consecutive year that a Slovak player has claimed the prestigious junior championship, following Renata Jamrichova's historic victory in 2024.

Pohankova, a 16-year-old from Levice, demonstrated her prowess on the grass courts of Wimbledon, overcoming an early setback when she found herself down 1-3 in the first set. From that point, she showcased her resilience and skill, winning 11 of the last 12 games played. Throughout the match, Pohankova maintained a dominant serve, conceding only five points behind her first serve and delivering 13 winners compared to Pareja's three, as reported by WTA statistics.

"When I step on the court and you saw the crowd and, like, the stadium is so big, I felt a little bit nervous for the first three games," Pohankova admitted after her victory. "I just tried to play and do my best. When I led 3-0 in the second set, I felt like this was my game."

The Slovakian’s journey to the final included a notable victory over home favorite and US Open junior champion Mika Stojsavljevic, with a scoreline of 7-6(4), 6-1, and a quarterfinal win against junior No. 1 Emerson Jones, where she won decisively 6-2, 6-2. Throughout the tournament, she dropped only one set, which occurred in a challenging third-round match against Brazilian teenager Nauhany Vitoria Leme Da Silva, eventually winning 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.

Mia Pohankova's performance is viewed as a continuation of Slovakia's growing reputation in junior tennis, particularly following Renata Jamrichova’s groundbreaking victory last year at Wimbledon. Jamrichova became the first Slovak to win the girls' singles title, defeating Emerson Jones in the final. Both players are seen as leading figures among their peers and potential future stars on the professional circuit.

Pareja, also aged 16, entered the final with an impressive record, having won 11 consecutive matches on grass since beginning her preparation for Wimbledon. She captured the J300 warm-up tournament in Roehampton prior to the Championships, defeating leading British junior talents Hannah Klugman and Mingge Xu. Pareja is currently ranked No. 340 in the WTA rankings, making strides in her professional career, including reaching the final round of US Open qualifying as a wild card in the previous year.

Pohankova's journey into professional tennis began in October 2023, with limited participation, having played only seven tournaments, primarily within Slovakia. However, her skills have already garnered attention; she won the 2024 Bratislava ITF W75 event and achieved her first Top 100 victory over Oceane Dodin. After her recent Wimbledon triumph, she now ranks No. 465 in the WTA standings.

As they look towards the future, both Pohankova and Pareja are determined to translate their junior successes into professional achievements. "I need to win like a real Wimbledon, not juniors," Pohankova remarked, highlighting her ambition to follow in the footsteps of 2018 junior champion Iga Swiatek, who recently captured her first senior title at Wimbledon. As the tennis world watches, the potential for these young athletes to leave their mark on the sport continues to grow, signaling a promising future for Slovak tennis on the global stage.