Issue link: http://itf.uberflip.com/i/867059
22 ITFWORLD SUMMER 2017 JUNIOR GRAND SLAMS THE BEST FOR LAST F or 17-year-old Australian Alexei Popyrin, Roland Garros signified the opportunity to save his best for his planned last foray in the junior realm of tennis. The third-seeded Popyrin, playing in his seventh Grand Slam event, ended his junior days by picking up the Roland Garros boys trophy with a 76(5) 63 final victory over 11th seed Nicola Kuhn of Spain. "It feels amazing," said Popyrin, a teen clearly comfortable with entertaining an audience. "Winning any tournament feels great, but especially when you win a Grand Slam, you feel over the moon. It's what you have been working for. It's what you have been striving for. It's just great to get that step done. Now we have to move on to the pros and try to do the same in the next level." Popyrin came into Roland Garros fine-tuned for his big moment having won his first junior career Grade A title at the Trofeo Bonfiglio tournament in Milan, Italy, a couple of weeks prior to his Paris victory. It might seem odd to some that Popyrin, as an Australian, has his best success on clay courts. But his story reveals why he shows a preference for the gritty surface. Technically a Sydney native, the town where he was born to Russian parents, Popyrin's family moved to Spain a few years ago to facilitate his training. Currently residing in Marbella, Popyrin also enjoys a frequent coaching relationship with the Patrick Mouratoglou Academy in the south of France. Mouratoglou, most known as Serena Williams' personal coach, was courtside watching Popyrin win what he hopes is only a first career Roland Garros title. Popyrin is hoping for a bright future and is eager to take on the responsibility of representing Australia in a big way. "I would love to play in Davis Cup, love to be an orange boy at least maybe this year or maybe next year," he said. "Yeah, for sure winning Davis Cup for my country is one of the main goals." Although Popyrin is performing to high levels, he's still quite young and didn't think about all the facets that come with success. But if he keeps winning he'll likely get the hang of advance preparation. "I have never won a tournament of this magnitude," he said, when asked how he'd celebrate being a Grand Slam champion. "I don't know what we will do." roland garros J UN I O R SL A M SP O T L I GH T J U N I O R SL A M S P O T L I G H T J UN I O R SL A M S P O T L I GH T By Sandra Harwitt.