Next Nishikori? Mochizuki First Japanese to Win Wimbledon Junior Boys Singles

Teenager Shintaro Mochizuki became the first Japanese to win a junior boys' Grand Slam title, beating Spain's Carlos Gimeno Valero 6-3 6-2 in the Wimbledon final on Sunday.

Shintaro Mochizuki of Japan holding his trophy celebrates after winning the Boy's singles at Wimbledon against Carlos Gimeno Valero of Spain on July 14, 2019 Source: AAP Image/The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images

The 16-year-old backed his aggressive backhand throughout the contest and went on to win 17 of his 23 points at the net to seal victory in 61 minutes.

Mochizuki became Japan's only second Grand Slam junior champion, following the footsteps of Kazuko Sawamatsu, who captured the Wimbledon and French Open girls' titles in 1969.

Having began playing tennis at the age of three, Mochizuki has fine-tuned his game under coach Natsuo Yamanaka at IMG's tennis academy in Bradenton, Florida, where Japan's current number one Kei Nishikori also honed his game.

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