Another Swiss star surfaces with junior title triumph
Henry Bernet has achieved something even Swiss great Roger Federer couldn’t by winning the Australian Open boys’ singles title.
Turning 18 on the day of the final at Rod Laver, the young Swiss overcame American Ben Willwerth 6-3 6-4.
It was Bernet’s first junior major title and he becomes the first Swiss to achieve the feat in Australia, with Federer victorious at Wimbledon and Stan Wawrinka claiming the boys’ crown at the French Open.
While Federer didn’t win the Australian juniors, he won the Open men’s title six times among his haul of 20 majors while Wawrinka lifted the Melbourne trophy in 2014.
Boasting a searing single-handed backhand in the same style as the Swiss pair, the eighth seed broke Willwerth in the fifth game of the opening set and then for a second time to wrap it up 6-3.
The second set was another tight battle with the players each holding serve until Bernet cracked his 17-year-old American rival to lead 5-4 before serving out the match.
While his backhand was a highlight, Bernet built the win off his serve which topped 205km, while he won 79 per cent of points from his first serve.
Calling both Swiss champions an “inspiration”, Bernet said he met Federer for the first time last year at the US Open while he has practised with Wawrinka as the pair share the same management.
Bernet recently announced he had recruited Severin Luthi, the long-time coach of Federer, ending his partnership with current 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 said as he received his trophy.
“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.”
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