After a nervous start, India’s 16-year-old tennis star Yuki Bhambri went on to pick up the junior grand slam title at the Australian Open in Melbourne trouncing his German opponent Alexandros-Ferdinandos Georgoudas in straight sets 6-3, 6-1. With this win, Yuki became the world number 2 in this category.

This win catapults Yuki into the select league of junior grand slam title winners Ramanathan Krishnan who won the Wimbledon title in 1954; Ramesh Krishnan who bagged the French Open and Wimbledon titles in 1979; and, Leander Paes who grabbed the Wimbledon and US Open titles in 1990. Yuki’s historic win comes after 18 years of dry spell since 1990 when the last title was won by Leaner Paes. He is the fourth Indian to win a junior grand slam title.

Dekhi boy, Yuki, drew confidence from the fact that he was a top seed and a favourite for the win. Regular training at Nick Bolletieri Tennis Academy in Florida seems to have ushered in a marked improvement in Yuki’s game who loves to play on hard turf.

To beat the heat of Melbourne in the Australian Open Boys Singles final, Yuki practiced enough to ensure maximum fitness in the searing heat of Melbourne. In fact, the heat in Melbourne is believed to have been partly responsible for the youngster’s unsatisfactory performance in the semi finals of junior doubles in Melbourne.

Born to Doctor Chander and housewife Indu, Yuki’s elder sisters Ankita and Sanna are national level tennis players. Yuki is a student of the Delhi Public School. He lives in Gulmohar Park and is coached by Aditya Sachdeva at the Siri Fort Sports Complex. Incidentally, Aditya is the coach for his sisters as well.

Yuki missed the flight after the delay caused by post-match interviews and dope tests.
Asked as to how he felt after winning the trophy, Yuki remarked: “The trophy still lies in my kit bag. The feeling of being a champion has not sunk in yet.”