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NORTH AmERIcAN Newsline JULY 16, 2021 | The Indian Eye 24

Samir Banerjee lifted the

Wimbledon boys’ singles title at 17

The player from New Jersey creates history

Our Bureau centrepiece, I’m going to look ed to do but still accomplished. While Banerjee’s victory is a

New Jersey, NJ at this and be inspired to keep “Remember the name – testament to the system that US
playing and hopefully come Samir Banerjee. The American Tennis Association has put in
ndian-American tennis back here as a pro,” he was wins his first junior Grand Slam place, India has been struggling
player Samir Banerjee lifted quoted as saying by the Wimble- singles title by beating Victor to field a worthy contender at ju-
Ithe Wimbledon boys’ singles don website. Lilov in the boys’ singles final,” nior Grand Slams for some time
title on Sunday, a remarkable “I really just wanted to win a the official twitter handle of the now. Due to the lack of a robust
triumph for the youngster who round, I didn’t expect this. I had Championships posted. domestic circuit and not having
was testing his skills in a Grand a tough French Open, lost to a Legendary Indian tennis enough competitions at home
Slam for only the second time in good player. So here I just want- player Vijay Amritraj congratu- to earn world ranking points,
his fledgling career. ed to keep my expectations low lated Banerjee. “Wonderful win India has been struggling to cre-
All of 17, the player from so that if I passed them, then for Indian American 17 yr old ate the next crop of youngsters.
New Jersey just wanted to win a I’d be happy. But this was way Samir Bannerjee in the boys sin- Yuki Bhambri was the last
match at the biggest stage in the beyond my wildest dreams,” he gles at Wimbledon 2021. Wish Indian to win a junior singles
junior circuit, but little did he said to a round of applause from him well for a great future,” the title when he triumphed at the
know that he would be the last the crowd. 67-year old who reached singles Australian Open in 2009 while
boy standing at the hallowed Since the coach was unavail- quarterfinals at Wimbledon and Sumit Nagal won the Wimble-
grass courts. And that too when able, Banerjee ‘s uncle Kanad US Open tweeted. don boys’ doubles event in 2015
he did not have his coach Carlos accompanied him. Banerjee’s father Kunal was with Vietnam’s Ly Hoang Nam.
Esteban with him, since his wife “My uncle is here, he’s not born in Assam, and his mother Ramanathan Krishnan was
had reportedly tested positive technically a tennis coach, but Usha was brought up in Andhra the first Indian to win a junior
for COVID-19. if these results keep happening Pradesh before both migrated major when he won the 1954 Ju-
Up against compatriot Vic- then I should start travelling to the USA in the mid-1980s nior Wimbledon championship.
tor Lilov, the teenager won 7-5, with him more,” he said jokingly. and got married there. His son Ramesh Krishnan won
6-3 in the summit clash that As Lilov’s backhand sailed The youngster, reportedly, the 1970 junior Wimbledon and
lasted one hour 22 minutes. over the baseline on match- will take a break from the tour junior French Open titles while
He broke his rival thrice and point, Banerjee dropped his to enrol for a degree in either Leander Paes won the 1990 ju-
dropped serve only once. racquet, put both his hands on economics or political science at nior Wimbledon and junior US
“It’s going to be amazing, his head in disbelief as if to say the Columbia University in the Open. Paes was also a runner-up
this trophy is going to be my that this was not what he expect- coming months. at the junior Australian Open.

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