Henry Bernet, a Swiss participant impressed by Roger Federer, gave himself a powerful 18th birthday current by profitable the Australian Open junior boys title.
Bernet, who beat top-seeded Jan Kumstat within the quarter-finals and Finland’s Oskari Paldanius within the semi-finals, sealed the title with a 6-3 6-4 win over American Benjamin Willwerth.
{The teenager} might now observe within the footsteps of fellow countrymen Federer and Stan Wawrinka, who maintain 23 Grand Slams between them.
Bernet met Federer for the primary time final 12 months on the US Open and he has practised with Wawrinka because the pair share the identical administration workforce.
Bernet, who possesses a good looking one-handed backhand, lately introduced he had recruited Severin Luthi, the long-time coach of Federer, ending his partnership with present coach Kai Stentenbach.
“I have to thank my coach, this is actually our last trip and I think it’s pretty much the happy ending we deserve,” Bernet mentioned as he acquired his trophy on Rod Laver Enviornment.
“I wouldn’t be standing here without you as you gave me the belief I could win one of these big tournaments, so thank you very much.”
Bernet additionally grew up in Basel and represented the TC Previous Boys Basel, which is the membership Federer performed at as a junior.
He joins the lengthy record of well-known names from Switzerland to win a junior Grand Slam – together with Federer, Wawrinka and Martina Hingis
“It is an honour for me to see them interested in my game. It is a motivation for me,” Bernet mentioned.
“I have been compared already with Roger, but it is like, ‘He is another world. He is playing at another level and I am very far away from it’. But it keeps me motivated.
“I imply, what Roger and Stan achieved for the nation Switzerland will not be regular and it is simply an inspiration for us younger folks.”
He added: “I would love to talk to him [Federer] again. But I mean, he’s anyway busy. I mean, I would love to have a chat with him. But I’m not expecting one now.”
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