Ben Bartram has just achieved what no one has before: he's been crowned the singles and doubles champion at the US Open junior championships in Flushing Meadows. En route to the title, Bartram won three consecutive matches including a 6-4, 6-1 victory in the final over compatriot and doubles partner Dahnon Ward. The British teen also won his doubles championships in straight sets. He did not lose a set en route to either title. Congrats, Ben, on being the first person in history to win the US Open Junior titles - you're a trailblazer and we are proud to have you on team Volkl!
Wheelchair tennis is front and center at this year’s US Open, with the field of players greater in size and diversity than ever before. For those who have been following the ITF circuit results leading up to the year’s final Grand Slam event, Ben Bartram’s name should ring a bell.
Ben, who's a favorite at this year's junior Open, is a Volkl Tennis VIP who has been highlighted on our social media pages for the past couple of years. He plays the VCell 8 285 using a hybrid setup with Cyclone and Classic SynGut.
Although the 17-year-old Brit has only been playing tennis for six years so far, he’s attained a world no. 1 junior ranking and most recently has won six back-to-back men’s ITF tournaments, ranking within the top 20 wheelchair tennis players in the world. It’s safe to say that he is most definitely on a winning streak, and only has high hopes heading into the US Open. His stellar performance on the European circuit earned him an automatic bid into this year’s US Open, making him one of the brightest stars to potentially take home the title.
Having grown up playing tennis in England, the second-year Eastern College student (in Norwich) says: “I am super proud of the way I’ve come up through the rankings and am already playing in men’s tournaments – a great feeling all around.”
It’s Bartram’s first time ever visiting New York, as he’s taking a small break from pursuing a degree in sports management from his local university in order to chase after his tennis dreams in the Big Apple.
“I’d say the drive to keep getting better and keep getting up the rankings — and beat some of the best tennis players in the world — overall improvement drives me,” says Bartram, who is coached by Neil Plaskett. “Neil goes out of his way to find ways to improve, and he’s been a massive turning point in my game.”
While Bartram’s commitment to tennis means he doesn’t have much time for activities outside the court, he does say he’s working toward getting his driver’s license soon as well as turning pro by the time he earns his degree. The US Open wheelchair men’s tournament is September 7 through the 11th.
