The introduction of junior wheelchair events at Australian Open 2025 has been a resounding success, with top seeds winning both singles titles.
In a comprehensive boy’s singles final, No.1-ranked junior, American Charlie Cooper, put in a dominant display to win 6-2 6-2 over Belgian second seed, Alexander Lantermann.
MORE: All the results from AO 2025
“I’m really happy to be the first ever junior wheelchair champion here at the Australian Open,” a jubilant Cooper said.
The 17-year-old explained how he believed his three wins in the group stage, including a 6-1 6-1 win over Lantermann, had been the key to victory.
“Getting those three wins under my belt in the round robin really helped with my confidence going into this one.”
Referencing the advent of junior wheelchair events at AO 2025, Cooper shared how important it is not only for his own career but also for the pathway of wheelchair tennis as a whole.
“It means a lot for me, because when I first started wheelchair tennis, I had no one my age, 17 or 16, to look up to when I was just 12, starting out,” he said.
“Everyone was 21, winning Grand Slams. Being a kid thinking it’ll take 10 years to win, the motivation goes down.”
“So, when you have kids like Tokito Oda at 18 winning Grand Slams, you think, ‘I can do that in four years’. Now I want to be that inspiration for those kids.
Aside from Oda, Cooper has another Japanese idol that has spurred him on to pursue his dreams of success.
“Shingo Kunieda is my inspiration. He’s one of the greatest wheelchair players of all time. We train in Florida. I’m blessed that he’s there, helping out our younger athletes there,” he said.
“I get to look up to him every day.”
Off the back of some strong results in 2024, Cooper says he plans to experience more of the men’s tour before he turns 18 in December.
“The second half of last year, I was playing a lot of men’s tournaments. I’ve been able to win three so far. So that’s my main goal, playing the men’s tournaments this year,” he said.
“I’m trying to get up there quick, 'cos anything can happen. Tokida Oda is a good example of that.”
“Being able to play those men’s events, and getting that early experience now, will only help me in the long run when I turn 18.”
Flying the flag for Brazil, Vitoria Miranda has followed up her doubles title with a come-from-behind victory over American Sabina Czauz.
The No.1-ranked junior had to do it the hard way, losing the first six games of the match before clawing her way back, winning the title 0-6 6-3 7-6(4).
Thinking she’d won the title at 7-3 up in the super tiebreak, Miranda composed herself admirably to claim victory over a valiant Czauz, who fought to the last ball.
The Brazilian shared a heartfelt embrace with her coach after the match in celebration of the win she added to her previous doubles victory with Belgian partner Luna Gryp, over Czauz and Latvian Ailina Mosko.
It has added to Brazil’s strong presence in the junior wheelchair events at AO 2025, which saw compatriot Luiz Calixto take the boys’ doubles junior wheelchair title alongside singles champion Cooper.