American Bruno Kuzuhara and Jakub Mensik of Czech Republic will compete in one of the world’s most iconic arenas and fight for the opportunity to lift Grand Slam silverware after reaching the Australian Open boys’ final.

Installed as top seed in the boys’ draw, Kuzuhara has ridden the wave of expectation all week and takes his place in the final following a 7-6(2) 6-3 last-four victory over Adolfo Daniel Vallejo.

At this juncture, it is only right to pay tribute to Vallejo, who became the first Paraguayan boy to contest a Junior Grand Slam singles semi-final and the first Paraguayan player to do since Larissa Schaerer in 1992.

Mensik, meanwhile, who has been tipped to top the podium by many of his fellow players, confirmed his date with destiny by defeating Switzerland’s Kilian Feldbausch 6-1 4-6 6-2.

Like Vallejo, Feldbausch also departs Melbourne with a little piece history after becoming the first Swiss boy to compete in a singles semi-final at the Australian Open since 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer in 1998.

But whatever statistics have been unearthed this week, the only fact that really matters from here on in is whose name will be forever etched onto the Junior Grand Slam honour roll, which includes some illustrious figures.

Kuzuhara heads into the contest, to be played on Rod Laver Arena, on a high and with full knowledge of what a Junior Grand Slam win feels like. Following his semi-final win, he and Coleman Wong triumphed in the boys’ doubles final.

“I am feeling amazing,” Kuzuhara told itftennis.com. “It is always great to make a Grand Slam final and to win one today with my partner was an amazing feeling.

“I feel like it is always better to win tonight. At least I get to sleep on a win, not a loss, and it won’t affect me mentally tomorrow. There are only positive things going into tomorrow’s final after today.”

Mensik, who is ranked No. 6 in the boys’ rankings and seeded No. 4 here, does not have the luxury of a Junior Grand Slam doubles triumph – a matter of hours before such a crunch clash – to inspire, but he is a player on an upward trajectory.

The 16-year-old was enduring something of a non-descript campaign last season before reaching the final at JA Milan in July and then going one better at Cape Town in October, where he chalked up the maiden Grade A title of his career.

“It is amazing to be a Junior Grand Slam finalist,” Mensik told itftennis.com. “This is my second Junior Grand Slam and I have nothing to say other than I am so happy.

“I hope tomorrow that I can win as it would be amazing for me and for my country. It would be something special because big legends have played this tournament and won the junior competition. To win would be something very special.

“It will be my first time on Rod Laver. We will see. Big legends have played there and the pressure will be big, but that is nothing for me. I enjoy the pressure, I like it. I can work with that.”

Kuzuhara is bidding to ensure there is an American singles winner for the third successive Junior Grand Slam after successes for Samir Banerjee and Robin Montgomery at Wimbledon and the US Open respectively in 2021.

The 17-year-old is also looking to follow in the footsteps of some lofty American names, with the likes of Taylor Fritz, Coco Gauff, Sebastian Korda, Reilly Opelka and Tommy Paul all topping the podium at Junior Grand Slams in recent years.

“It would be great to add my name to that list,” said junior world No. 3 Kuzuhara. “If I am not mistaken, the last American to win here was Sebastian Korda and I was fortunate enough to warm him up before his match with Pablo Carreno Busta.

“It is always amazing to be able to practice with the top guys. It is a great honour to be invited to practice with them and it showed me how much I would like to reach that level one day.”

Mensik, meanwhile, is striving to become just the second Czech boy to triumph at the Australian Open Junior Championships after the trailblazing efforts of Jiri Vesely in 2011. Mensik insists he can feel the support of homeland.

“Everyone in Czech Republic is writing to me now,” he said. “My coach told me that the whole of Czech Republic is sending their congratulations, and not only people I know there.

“For me, this is something new and special as I have never been in this situation before. I hope tomorrow the messages will be even better.”

Anyone looking for an omen or suggestion as to which way the pendulum may swing tomorrow might consider past results as the paths of Kuzuhara and Mensik have crossed before.

At last year’s US Open, Mensik prevailed in three sets during their second-round encounter, although Kuzuhara is keen to dismiss any suggestion that their previous meeting offers any insight into how proceedings will unfold.  

“I did end up losing to him at the US Open,” he added.

“Tonight, my coach are I are going to eat dinner and watch that match over and review any things I need to work on and whether there is anything tactically I need to focus on.

“That defeat won’t affect me mentally. I am going to go in there knowing that I am prepared to give it my best.”

Whichever way you look at it, a mouth-watering tussle lies in store.