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| 10 Sep 2001 | |
| Marion Bartoli and Gilles Muller crowned US Open Junior Champs |
Marion Bartoli (FRA) and Gilles Muller are the new junior US Open champions as both won tough finals at Flushing Meadows on Sunday. The victories marked the debut Grand Slams for both players and Muller had double reason to celebrate, having clinched the junior World No.1 position with his 7-6, 6-2 defeat of second seed Yeu-Tzuoo Wang.
The 18-year-old from Luxembourg was too strong and consistent for Wang, who seemed to be feeling the effects of his week’s work. Wang was forced to call the trainer mid-way through the second set for treatment to both his legs. “It was okay for me, the break. I was happy because I was also a little bit tired in the legs,” admitted Muller. “In the first set I was a bit nervous and I didn’t play my best tennis that’s why it was hard. Every point was important,” said Muller. “Second set, I saw everything and I went to take the points, not just to wait for mistakes.”
Muller headed home to Luxembourg after the final to celebrate with his friends and family before preparing to play senior events on the Futures and ATP Challenger circuit. " I reached two goals this week. I won the Grand Slam and I went to No.1. I am very happy with this. It gives you a lot of confidence to go to the next tournaments.”
Bartoli knows just how he feels. She clinched the girls’ title with a hard-fought 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Svetlana Kuznetsova. “For this year it was very important for me to win a Grand Slam,” said a delighted Bartoli. “I said that at the beginning of the year and I have done that, so I’m very happy.” Bartoli was made to work hard for the trophy though by the determined Russian, and had to switch to a more aggressive game plan to battle her way back into the match. “I think it was very difficult to win today,” said the 16-year-old. “She played a very good match. It was difficult to play against her. In the first set I played from the baseline but from the baseline she’s stronger than me so I can’t win. In the second set I realised that I must go to net, if I play well at the net then I can win. So I went to the net and I won.”
Bartoli says she will be putting her US Open trophy next to her most prized possession, a signed Pete Sampras shirt and her first action as US Open champion was to go and watch her hero in action in the men’s final. “I really will watch and I support him from the TV,” she said. “When I go to the court, he always loses so I don’t go to the court. I watch on TV and hope he win!”
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