Rising Swiss tennis star Henry Bernet celebrated his 18th birthday in grand fashion on Saturday, capturing the Australian Open junior boys singles title with an impressive 6-3, 6-4 victory over American Benjamin Willwerth at Melbourne Park.
The young Swiss sensation cited his compatriots Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka as major sources of inspiration following his triumph. Bernet revealed that he met Federer for the first time last year at the U.S. Open, while he has had the opportunity to practice with Wawrinka as they are represented by the same management team.
In a recent move, Bernet announced that he had enlisted the services of Severin Luthi, Federer’s long-time coach, ending his partnership with current coach Kai Stentenbach. As he accepted the championship trophy on the iconic Rod Laver Arena, Bernet expressed his gratitude towards 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. “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.”
Road to the Title
Bernet’s path to the title was not without its challenges. The Swiss prodigy had to overcome top-seeded Jan Kumstat in the quarterfinals and Finland’s Oskari Paldanius in the semifinals before ultimately prevailing against Willwerth in the championship match. The 17-year-old American had reached the final after defeating fellow countryman Jagger Leach in a hard-fought three-set semifinal encounter.
Sonobe Shines in Girls’ Singles
In the junior girls’ singles final, Japan’s Wakana Sonobe put on a dominant display, routing American Kristina Penickova 6-0, 6-1 to claim the title. The 15-year-old Sonobe, who had finished as the runner-up at the 2022 U.S. Open, demonstrated her growth and maturity on the court as she dismantled Penickova in just over an hour.
Sonobe’s impressive run to the title included a 6-3, 6-4 semifinal victory over home favorite and world No. 1 junior Emerson Jones, showcasing her ability to perform under pressure and against top-level competition.
Doubles Delight for Penickova Twins and Exsted/Kumstat
While Kristina Penickova fell short in the singles final, she found success in the doubles event alongside her twin sister Annika. The American duo claimed the girls’ doubles title with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Emerson Jones and Britain’s Hannah Klugman on Friday.
In the boys’ doubles final, American Max Exsted and Czech Jan Kumstat emerged victorious, defeating the Serbian pair of Egor Pleshivtsev and Ognjen Milic 7-6(6), 6-3. The title marked Exsted’s second consecutive Australian Open boys’ doubles crown, having won the event in 2024 with compatriot Cooper Woestendick.
A Bright Future Ahead
As the Australian Open junior champions celebrate their achievements, tennis fans around the world will be eager to see how these young talents progress in the years to come. With the likes of Henry Bernet drawing inspiration from established stars such as Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka, the future of Swiss tennis appears to be in capable hands.
The success of players like Wakana Sonobe and the Penickova twins also bodes well for the women’s game, as they look to make their mark on the professional circuit and potentially become the next generation of Grand Slam champions.
As these young talents continue to develop and hone their skills, the tennis world eagerly anticipates the emergence of new stars who will carry the torch and inspire future generations of players, just as legends like Federer and Wawrinka have done for the current crop of junior champions.
