Every year on 6 September it’s National Unification Day in Bulgaria, celebrating the day in 1885 when Eastern Rumelia and the Principality of Bulgaria merged to make the current nation of Bulgaria.

This 6 September, 140 years after that momentous event, many in the European nation got together to see an historic first on the tennis court: two young men, raised in different parts of Bulgaria, play the US Open boys' final in front of many Bulgarian fans.

In their first official tournament meeting, No. 1 seed Ivan Ivanov beat his friend and sometimes training partner, seed Alexander Vasilev, 7-5 6-3 to win his first US Open title.

For the 16-year-old Ivanov, it caps an incredible summer, as he became the first junior boy since Canada's Filip Peliwo in 2012 to win the boys' singles titles at Wimbledon and the US Open in the same year. Fellow Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov also achieved the feat in 2008. 

“When I was in Bulgaria, especially in Bulgarian school, every time we had to learn about this date,” said Ivanov, who is a two-time recipient of Grand Slam Player Grants financed through the ITF-operated Grand Slam Player Development Programme.

“Now that we played on that day, I'm very happy that this success came, especially now. I'm very happy about it.”

Ivanov, boasting a powerful forehand and a deadly weapon of a serve, admitted it was nerve-wracking playing his friend on such a big stage.

“There were some moments that I had, deja vu let's say, and I remember some of the moments like when we were under-12,” Ivanov said.

“Then I just managed to keep calm and keep my discipline and focus, which gave me the positive mentality that I was playing with.”

Vasilev, who reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon, admitted the stress of a week’s worth of matches here at the US Open Junior Championships had caught up to him.

“It was very tough. The last week was tough,” the 18-year-old said. “What can I say? It was a high level. I got a little bit tired at the end, but I'm happy with the week.

"I'm happy I stayed focused and gave what I had. It was a great experience to be here with the Bulgarian crowd.”

Indeed, it felt like a Davis Cup atmosphere on Court No. 12, with Bulgarian flags flying and cheers erupting when either player smacked a winner.

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Ivanov was the steadier player early on, grabbing a 5-3 lead, but Vasilev powered his way back in, breaking serve to even the set at 5-all.

But then it was Ivanov’s turn to seize the advantage, breaking right back, then winning the set with a big ace out wide.

Ivanov’s coach, Jeremy Paisan of the Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain, said his charge’s focus was the key today.

“He was really locked in and really focused on the goal,” said Paisan of Ivanov, who has been at the Nadal academy for three years. “To recover from being broken and bounce back like that is really special.”

Both Paisan and Ivanov said this run to the title was very different from the Wimbledon triumph.

“The Wimbledon experience was something amazing, was so special, probably the most special one,” Ivanov said.

“In New York, I don't think I could find the same level as Wimbledon, but I was playing a very good level, which I'm very happy about.

"I keep finding solutions even though sometimes I was not feeling very well or having some tough moments.”

The two players will be Davis Cup teammates in two weeks as Bulgaria take on Finland in a World Group I tie. When this match here was over, they congratulated each other at net, knowing next time on court, they’ll be on the same side.

In the boys' doubles final, meanwhile, it was an all-American affair, and a native New Yorker grabbed the crown.

Jack Kennedy, from Long Island, and his partner Keaton Hance, from California, erased an 8-5 deficit in the match tiebreak to win the final five points of the final and defeat Noah Johnston and Benjamin Willwerth 6-3 1-6 10-8.

Kennedy and Hance, wearing matching headbands, celebrated with a Bryan Brothers-inspired leaping chest bump after the final point.

“In my second home, my backyard, it's really special,” said Kennedy, who is from nearby Huntington. “Happy to do it with Keaton, happy to do it in front of my family. It’s a dream come true.”

Hance said even when they trailed in the tiebreak, they didn’t stop enjoying themselves.

“We said we were going to stay positive no matter what, keep fighting and keep having fun,” Hance said. “We checked those boxes and had a few moments go our way in the tiebreak.”

Both Kennedy, headed to University of Virginia in fall of 2026, and Hance, who has committed to University of Texas for next year as well, said they plan to compete at the Slams again next year. 

A full list of results from the 2025 US Open Junior Championships is available here