Defeats Stefan Kozlov in First All-American Wimbledon Junior Boys’ Final since 1977
Noah Rubin (18, Rockville Centre, N.Y.) became the second American in the last 20 years to capture the Wimbledon boys’ singles championship today, defeating fellow American and No. 6 seed Stefan Kozlov (16, Pembroke Pines, Fla.), 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, in a historic Wimbledon junior boys’ final this morning at the All England Club in London.
It was only the second-ever all-American boys’ final at Wimbledon and the first since 1977 (Van Winnitsky d. Eliot Teltscher), with Rubin becoming the first American to win the title since Donald Young Jr. ( D.Y.) in 2007.
Further, three of the boys’ semifinalists at Wimbledon were American, including Taylor Fritz (16, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.), ( came thru qualifying ) the first such occurrence at a Grand Slam since the 2000 US Open (Andy Roddick, Robby Ginepri, Ytai Abougzir).
“We couldn’t be happier for Noah, and we are incredibly proud of him, Stefan and Taylor for what they accomplished this week,” said Pat McEnroe. “To have an all-American boys’ final and three of the four semifinalists be American, as well, is a testament to the dedication and hard work put in by themselves, their coaches and their families, and they all deserve congratulations.”
Rubin, a former Top-10 world-ranked junior, was playing in just his second junior event of 2014 and came through qualifying. He is the first American to win a Grand Slam junior singles title since Jack Sock beat Denis Kudla at the 2010 US Open, which also was the last all-American Grand Slam boys’ final.
Kozlov, meanwhile, reached his second junior Grand Slam final this year (Australian Open).
Rubin is coached by Lawrence Kleger at the John McEnroe Tennis Academy in Randall’s Island, N.Y. Kozlov is coached by his father, Andrei, who operates his own academy out of Pembroke Pines, Fl.
Topics: Junior Tennis, Noah Rubin, Stefan Kozlov, Taylor Fritz, Tennis, Wimbledon
NOAH RUBIN OF THE U.S. WINS THE WIMBLEDON JUNIOR BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP – http://t.co/JOrCkiX4Ow #Wimbledon2014 #tennis #ATP #Juniors2014 #Wimby