Czech Teen Maxim Mrva Claims US Open Junior Doubles Title with Japanese Partner Sakamoto
At just 17 years old, Czech tennis player Maxim Mrva has already secured a Grand Slam title. Partnering with Japan’s Rei Sakamoto, the duo triumphed in the junior doubles category at the US Open, marking a significant milestone in their careers. Notably, the victory was a proud moment for Czech tennis, with a trophy guaranteed even before the match began.
Earlier this year, Mrva shared his goals: “My first aim is to avoid injury, and my second is to enjoy tennis.” In New York, he certainly fulfilled both. Previously, his best result in Grand Slam tournaments was reaching the quarterfinals, but at the US Open, the young talent, who is an admirer of Nick Kyrgios, broke that barrier and soared to victory.
As the top seeds, Mrva and Sakamoto were in perfect harmony on the court, dropping only one set throughout the tournament. In Saturday’s thrilling final, the pair defeated fellow Czech Denis Peták and Swiss player Flynn Thomas 7-5, 7-6, clinching the title with a spirited performance, characterized by their signature backward caps and joy on the court.
On the junior girls’ doubles side, 16-year-old Julie Paštiková had less luck. Playing alongside Germany’s Julia Stusekova, she lost her second Grand Slam final of the year. After falling short at the Australian Open, the duo was once again denied the trophy in New York, losing 2-6, 6-4, 6-10 to Morocco’s Malak Allami and Norway’s Emily Sartz-Lunde in a hard-fought match. Despite their best efforts, Paštiková and Stusekova couldn’t secure the elusive Grand Slam title.