Canuck tops in junior tennis
Being named junior tennis player of the year was a big moment for Filip Peliwo, even if the Vancouver native knew it was coming for three months.
The 18-year-old who reached the junior boys final of all four grand slam tournaments this year, winning at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, got the confirmation Tuesday when the International Tennis Federation announced its champions for 2012.
Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams were named world champions while Peliwo and American Taylor Townsend took the junior titles. Djokovic won the men’s award for the second straight year, while Williams took the honour for the third time in her career.
Peliwo, the first player to reach all four grand slam finals in 28 years, is the first Canadian to hold two grand slam singles titles.
“I expected it to happen after I finished the U.S. Open (in September),” Peliwo said at the national team training centre. “It feels great just to be finally recognized officially as the world No. 1 junior.”
He lost the Australian Open final to Luke Saville and the French Open final to Kimmer Coppejans, then beat Saville to take Wimbledon and Liam Broady to win the U.S. title.
He said consistency was the biggest factor in his final year of junior tennis.
“I managed to be able to bring my game up in the big tournaments and the grand slams, even when I wasn’t playing my best,” said Peliwo.
“I found ways to win matches I was down in.
Peliwo is ranked 522nd and his goal for 2013 is to reach the top 250 or better.