ESSEN, Germany (TC) – Canada’s junior Fed Cup team of Toronto’s Katarina Zoricic, Aleksandra Wozniak of Blainville, Que., and Ekaterina Shulaeva of Oakville, Ont., fell 2-1 to the Netherlands in a heartbreaking final of the Junior Fed Cup, the Under-16 Girls’ World Championships.

Shulaeva came out strong in the opening match against Bibiane Schoofs, winning 6-1, 6-2. But Wozniak started off slowly against No.1 Dutchwoman Michaella Krajicek, falling 6-0, 7-5. Krajiceck, younger sister of Richard, went undefeated all week at the prestigious event.

In the decisive doubles match, Wozniak and Zoricic came up short, falling 6-1, 6-4 to Krajicek and Schoofs.

Led by Captain Rene Simpson, the team’s second place finish in the world is the best Canadian result in the 19-year history of the championships. Rene was delighted with her team’s result.

“I felt that we needed to come out and win the No. 2 singles to be in with a chance as Krajicek is so strong,” said Simpson, who also captains the women’s Fed Cup team. “Katie really played an incredible match. Alex started very nervously but played better in the second set. Both players were nervous in the doubles – they had their chances but couldn’t quite pull it off.

“We have had a great week, the match against Israel in the semifinals was incredible,” said Simpson. “It was exciting to get to the final and then to reach the deciding doubles. The girls’ tried hard and I am nothing but proud of them.”