Ivan Ivanov couldn’t sleep last night. The 16-year-old Bulgarian went to bed an hour early, allowing himself extra time for nervous contemplation of today’s boys’ singles final before drifting off to sleep.
He needn’t have worried. Looking utterly relaxed on the big No.1 Court stage, he overwhelmed the unseeded American qualifier Ronit Karki 6-2, 6-3 in 57 minutes.
In so doing, Ivanov became the first player from his country to take a Grand Slam title at this level since a certain Grigor Dimitrov won the US Open in 2008. It’s safe to say Ivanov loved every aspect of his win.
“It doesn’t feel real,” he smiled. “Our last champion was Grigor, right? So for me it was a privilege to play the final, that’s for sure, and to be on that court. And to be in a great battle today was something very nice too.
“Last night I couldn't sleep at my bedtime. I was just rotating in my bed. But today when I went in the court, I was enjoying. I felt very comfortable.
“Especially after the first couple of games, I find my game, I find the way I have to play. Grass is a different surface, more beautiful, with many more rules to be aware of.
“The big court… afterwards I realise I play there, I'm the winner, right? So it was something special. I’m very happy about it.”
Ivanov is already the world No.798 and the Bulgarian No.9. He has contested 16 professional events (three on the Challenger Tour and 13 on the ITF World Tennis Tour), capturing his maiden professional title at M15 Szentendre in Hungary just two months ago.
With his first serve on song, he leapt out to 3-0 inside eight minutes, as Karki lost his footing on the baseline at the end of a loose game to allow an early break.
By that stage Ivanov’s forehand – praised by Toni Nadal, no less, at the Rafa Nadal Academy where the Bulgarian is a residential student – had made itself felt. As the match went on, his slice and drop shot were also on display.
Karki, ranked 52 in the junior game, could barely get a foothold. Showing speed and accuracy, Ivanov was superior in every department, and didn’t face a break point all match.
The American, a year older than Ivanov, achieved so much by reaching this final. As if coming through Qualifying wasn’t enough, he saved match point during that phase, and once in the main draw had such a battling time of it that in total he spent half as long again on court as Ivanov en route to the championship match.
Until this summer he had never contested a match on grass. Now he was bidding to equal his compatriot Noah Rubin’s mark as the only player to have won this title as a qualifier. Ultimately he fell just short.
“I’m super grateful to be here,” Karki said. “I never would have expected to make it this far. It’s an amazing experience.”
As for Ivanov, he’s off to this evening’s Champions’ Dinner in central London.
“I was thinking about it a lot in the last couple of days,” he grinned. “This is something that I will love to go to. Right now we’re dealing with [finding] black tie to wear. I didn’t expect to win, so that’s a good problem.”
Meanwhile, in the girls’ doubles final, Kristina Penickova of the USA and Vendula Valdmannova of Czechia defeated the all-American pairing of Thea Frodin and Julieta Pareja 6-4, 6-2 to lift the title.