15-year-old Mika Stojsavljevic is into the girls’ singles US Open final as fellow Brits Mimi Xu and Charlie Robertson bowed out in the semi-finals.
Stojsavljevic has reached her first Grand Slam singles final after beating third seeded American Iva Jovic 6-0, 3-6, 6-3.
The young Brit has been on an incredible run in Flushing Meadows reaching the semi-finals without dropping a set, including a victory over top seed and junior world No.2 Emerson Jones.
She has become only the fifth British player to reach a junior US Open singles final – Andy Murray (2004), Heather Watson (2009), Oliver Golding (2011) and Liam Broady (2012).
The Hammersmith-born star will face Japan’s Wakana Sonobe, who defeated Xu in the semi-final 6-4, 6-4.
“I’m learning that I can compete at this level and that’s a really great thing for me,” Stojsavljevic told Sky Sports. “I’m enjoying it so much – I definitely didn’t expect this much going into the week so it’s super exciting. I’m just taking every day and soaking it all in. I think it will be a great match tomorrow.”
The young Brit explained that she’s taking inspiration from the success of the Brits in the professional game in New York over recent years.
“I remember watching Emma (Raducanu) on my living room floor with my siblings and my Mum and that was obviously a huge moment for British tennis. Obviously Jack (Draper) doing great this week as well – it’s super inspiring for all us juniors.”
Stojsavljevic – who began her tennis journey at Ealing Lawn Tennis Club – also reached the girls’ doubles final at Wimbledon this year alongside fellow Brit Xu and is also a former singles quarter-finalist at SW19.
Over the last few years, she has been supported by the LTA National Academy in Loughborough, where she has been able to work and develop her game under her current coach, Mark Taylor.
Stojsavljevic has also made her first steps into competing on the professional tour this year. She not only qualified and made the quarter-finals at the W50 Roehampton in February, just two months later she won her first senior level title at the W35 Nottingham.
Xu leaves Flushing Meadows with a Grand Slam semi-final and a quarter-final (Australian Open) to her name this year.
In the boys’ singles, Robertson was defeated by junior world No.1 Nicolai Budkov Kjaer 6-3, 6-3 in his first Grand Slam semi-final.
After his quarter-final victory, the 17-year-old Robertson commented on the amazing success of the British stars this week in New York.
“I think it’s just great for everyone in British tennis,” he told ATP.com. “For me when people are doing well, you go like, ‘I want to get to what he’s like as well’. It’s going to be massive for British tennis in a positive way.”
Robertson – who also trained at the LTA National Academy – grew up in Scotland looking up to recently retired Andy Murray.
“Andy’s always been my inspiration since I was little and to know that someone can do it from where you’ve trained and where he’s trained and grown up, it’s a massive inspiration.”
”I can’t thank the Murray family enough. They’ve given me so much support and I can’t thank them enough for backing me and backing a Scot. It’s really special.”
In the girls’ doubles draw – Britain’s Hannah Klugman also bowed out in the semi-final with Dutch partner Joy De Zeeuw.
Klugman and De Zeeuw lost to Czech, German duo Julie Pastikova and Julia Stusek 1-6, 6-0, 10-5.
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