Canada’s Liam Draxl is determined to fly his nation’s flag with distinction as the klaxon to signal the start of the ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Finals in Chengdu prepares to sound.

The 17-year-old will become the maiden Canadian boy to compete at the tournament when the 2019 ITF Junior Finals get underway at the Sichuan International Tennis Centre on 23 October.

The girls’ draw has seen two previous Canadian participants, with Charlotte Robillard-Millette finishing third in 2016 and Leylah Annie Fernandez, who conquered the Roland Garros Junior Championships in June, featuring 12 months ago.

But with the Maple Leaf appearing next to the name of a male competitor for the first time, Draxl welcomes the hand of history upon his shoulder and is proud of the kudos associated with his trailblazing status.

“I am very proud to be the first Canadian boy at the tournament,” Draxl told itftennis.com. “It means a lot to me because Canada is such a great country and I am honoured to represent my nation.

“I am really looking forward to playing on behalf of Canada and playing at the tournament in general as it sounds like it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

This season Draxl has contested several events at Challenger level and featured on the ITF World Tennis Tour, interspersed with appearances on the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors and at all four Junior Grand Slams.

Alongside American Govind Nanda, Draxl reached the doubles final at The Junior Championships, Wimbledon in July, only to succumb to Czech pair Jonas Forejtek and Jiri Lehecka in the final with silverware in touching distance.

Victory at J1 Carson and a run to the final at J1 Roehampton, together with a semi-final appearance in the doubles at the US Open Junior Tennis Championship, have contributed to Draxl occupying a Top-10 spot in the ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Rankings presented by IMG Academy.

He also held a career-high world ranking of No. 559 at the end of July, which combined with the remainder of his output across 2019 has left the Newmarket-born youngster with a sense of optimism.

“I think I have had a really good season this year. Making it into the Top 10 in the world in juniors and getting an ATP ranking is extremely satisfying,” he said. “But if there is one lesson I have learned is that the better you get, the harder you have to work.”

Whether in singles or doubles, Draxl has defeated all four of the year’s Junior Grand Slam singles champions this term, three of whom – Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune, Shintaro Mochizuki and Forejtek – will be battling for honours in the Far East.

Such victories will no doubt galvanise a belief within Draxl that he can land some lofty blows on the hard courts of Chengdu and make his debut at the ITF Junior Finals a truly memorable occasion.

“Everyone who plays in this tournament is going to be good, although I know that it’s possible for anyone to win it,” added Draxl. “Winning in Chengdu would mean a lot to me because it’s a top tournament for junior players and the competition, like I say, will be very tough.

“To lift a trophy would certainly be an amazing way to finish my junior career.”