MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Swiss player Henry Bernet gave himself a fairly impressive 18th birthday present Saturday and said he’d taken inspiration from countrymen Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka following his 6-3, 6-4 win over American Benjamin Willwerth in the Australian Open junior boys final.
Bernet said he met Federer for the first time last year at the U.S. Open while he has practiced with Wawrinka as the pair share the same management team. 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 on Rod Laver Arena. “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.”
