 Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 02 Jul 2005 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 02 Jul 2005 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 02 Jul 2005 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 02 Jul 2005 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 02 Jul 2005 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 02 Jul 2005 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 02 Jul 2005 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 02 Jul 2005 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 02 Jul 2005 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 01 Jul 2005 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 01 Jul 2005 |
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| 02 Jul 2005 - AELTC Wimbledon - Eleanor Preston | |
| Chardy and Radwanska Join Wimbledon Elite |
18-year-old Jeremy Chardy added his name to the pantheon of junior Wimbledon champions on Saturday, by beating Robin Haase of the Netherlands 64 63 to ensure that he will forever stand alongside other former boys' Wimbledon winners like Bjorn Borg, Stefan Edberg and Roger Federer.
“I’ve seen the list of players who have won it before and I’m really impressed that I’ve joined them,” said Chardy.
Unseeded Agnieska Radwanska of Poland, 16, was too strong for Timea Paszek of Austria, beating her 63 64 to win the girls' title. Past junior Wimbledon champions include Tracy Austin, Martina Hingis and Amelie Mauresmo.
Chardy is the second consecutive French boys champion and follows in the footsteps of his friend and training partner Gael Monfils who, after beating Chardy in last year’s semi-finals, predicted that he would win the title in 2005.
Chardy had to overcome a determined challenge from Haase, who was also making his debut in a grand slam final and admitted afterwards that he had almost been stymied by his own nerves, particularly as he served for the first set.
“I was nervous in the beginning of the match but I managed to focus in the second set,” said Chardy, speaking through translation. “It was tougher for me than it was for Monfils because he’d won the Australian Open and he knew what to expect. I hadn’t. I’m so happy to win. This is very, very important for me. My ranking will get better and now I hope to do well at the US Open as well so I can challenge for the junior World No.1 ranking at the end of the year.
Radwanska, who beat seeds Monica Niculescu and Aleksandra Wozniak en route to the final, said she was thrilled with her first grand slam title. “I’m so excited to have won such a famous event,” she said.
Radwanska had lost both her previous matches against Paszek, who was also unseeded, but said she had her father and coach Robert Radwauslei to thank for plotting her victory.
“He and I worked out my battle plan and it paid off,” she said. “It’s funny because I was afraid of the grass when I first arrived but I improved in every match. Now all I’m worried about is what I’m going to wear for the Champions’ dinner!"
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