Double success extends British drought
By becoming the first boy to complete the Roland-Garros-Wimbledon singles double since France’s Gael Monfils in 2004, Chun Hsin Tseng has won his second Grand Slam title from three finals this year. A breakthrough success for a player from Chinese Taipei thus extended a British drought in the boys’ event dating back to 1962.
But two 16-year-old players of the future with differing styles put on a fine show before an appreciative audience on Court No.1. After two hours and six minutes, top-seeded Tseng prevailed 6-1, 6-7 (2), 6-4 with a second serve ace.
While the spoils went to Tseng, plaudits also go to the unseeded Draper, who was utterly outplayed in the first set but who fought back to take the second, ending what for Tseng had been a run of 11 straigh sets. The Surrey left-hander had his chances early in the final set, and twice rallied from service breaks down, but a third recovery proved beyond him.
Draper expended plenty of energy in Friday’s marathon semi-final against No.6 seed Nicolas Mejia, decided 19-17 in a Wimbledon junior record of four hours, 24 minutes. Nothing could have prepared him for a match like that, said Draper, for whom so much was then about recovery for the match ahead.
Yet his attitude was admirable, and his is the bigger game, so there is abundant upside, despite Sunday's result. There are already signs Draper is a big-time competitor, one who seemed to enjoy the occasion once he had settled in, and down.
“It gives me immense confidence. It feels surreal, still, I’m still taking it in, but it’s been an unbelievable week and it’s going to give me a lot of inspiration and motivation. I’m very happy.’’
He said there were some early nerves, which had settled after he saved two break points early in the second set. “It was a bit of everything really, and also the sense of occasion: getting used to having that many people watching you. There was a tiny bit of pressure on me because I’m a Brit, as well, but I learnt to embrace that and went from there.
It feels surreal, still, I’m still taking it in, but it’s been an unbelievable week and it’s going to give me a lot of inspiration and motivation
Draper was given a code violation warning after breaking a racket in the second game after failing to cover three opportunities on the Tseng serve. He had beaten three seeds en route to becoming the first British boy to reach the singles final at the All England Club since Liam Broady in 2011, but Tseng won far more of the longer rallies, his legs fresher, his resolve obvious.
Tseng is clearly the standout junior in the world at the moment, with clay his favourite surface. He is relatively small in stature at 175cm (5’9’’), but still growing, he hopes, considering the number of giants on the men’s tour he is already transitioning towards.
My favourite idol is Kei Nishikori because I think he's the best
“It was a really big achievement,’’ said Tseng, the world No.1 who plans to leave the junior ranks after the Youth Olympics and the US Open and play full-time on the professional tour. “I have to thank so many people that help me to achieve this goal.’’
In the commentary box, Peter Fleming declared Tseng’s stature meant he would be “up against it’’, while also pointing out that Kei Nishikori has done rather well by playing a similar style of game.
“My favourite idol is Kei Nishikori because I think he's the best … one of the best Asia player. I think I play similar like him, so I want to be the same like him,’’ said Hseng, who asked to be in a photo with the Japanese superstar during a junior tournament in Florida four years ago and said he has posted the happy snap on his Facebook page.
In a first set lasting just 25 minutes, even the large, partisan crowd could appreciate Tseng’s attributes: his superb court coverage, fine variety, tactical maturity and precise shot-making. He has a part-time training base at the Mouratoglou Academy in Nice, and Patrick Mouratoglou, better known as Serena Williams' coach, was again in his competitor's box.
Chinese top seeds Xinyu and Xihu Wang of China added to Asia’s success by dominating the girls’ doubles against Americans Caty McNally and Whitney Osuigwe, the No.2 rated pair, 6-2 6-1. In the boys' championship, Yanke Erel and Otto Virtanen defeated Mejia and Ondrej Styler 7-6(5), 6-4.