Kolkata: Seventeen-year-old Indian-American Samir Bannerjee marched into the Wimbledon boy’s singles final with a convincing 7-6, 4-6, 6-2 win over Sascha Gueymard Wayenburg on Saturday. Banerjee, who is of Bengali origin currently lives in New Jersey in the USA, and will face Victor Lilov in the summit clash on Sunday.
Having started his ITF junior career late, Banerjee has set the ITF Jr circuit on fire over the past year. His singles record reads a phenomenal 10 final appearances in 16 events so far. This will also be the first all-American boys’ final at Wimbledon since 2014.
The first set went back and forth before it was Banerjee who had the last laugh to lead 1-0. The Frenchman made a comeback into the game, winning the second but Banerjee put his A-game forward to pocket the tie entering the biggest final of his career.
Earlier, Banerjee defeated Croatian Mili Poljicak 6-1, 6-1 in the quarterfinals. In the Round of 16, Banerjee overcame Brazilian Pedro Boscardin Dias 6-2, 6-1. In 1990, a 17-year-old Leander Paes from Kolkata won the Wimbledon boys singles title.
