ATP Tour
Junior No. 1 Ivanov, 16-year-old Nadal Academy standout, ‘fired up for tennis’
Bulgarian gained Wimbledon and US Open boys’ singles titles this 12 months
September 12, 2025
Sarah Stier/Getty Photos
Ivan Ivanov celebrates his US Open boys’ singles victory.
By ATP Employees
Rafael Nadal reached the top of the PIF ATP Rankings for the primary time in August 2008, shortly after beating Roger Federer within the Wimbledon remaining that’s broadly thought of among the best matches in tennis historical past.
Ivan Ivanov was not born till October that 12 months. However fast-forward 16 years and the Bulgarian trains on the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar and is the No. 1 participant within the ITF Junior Rankings, recent off victories at Wimbledon and the US Open.
There was loads of stress on the teenager to carry out in New York because the junior World No. 1 and reigning Wimbledon champion, however he confirmed few nerves in capturing one other Slam title at Flushing Meadows.
“[It was] very powerful, that’s for certain. [There were] expectations about that and all of the eyes on you,” Ivanov instructed ATPTour.com. “It’s one thing that it’s a must to take very particularly. However I managed it very properly as we will see, and I am very proud of that consequence.”
Ivanov doesn’t come from a household of tennis gamers. However his father gave him his first racquet and he has not seemed again.
“I simply began enjoying. I met my first coach and like this [there was] only a connection and the those who have been near me, they made me fired up for tennis,” Ivanov stated.
“I actually beloved the racquet sports activities in the beginning. I loved watching with my mother a few of the old-school tennis, like Roger and Stan. I imply, they don’t seem to be so old style, however I simply beloved watching them and I simply wished to strive it. I attempted it and I actually beloved it, which made me very joyful concerning the sport.”
Stan Wawrinka, now 40, is 24 years the Bulgarian’s elder and nonetheless competing. The Bulgarian additionally seemed as much as the likes of countryman Grigor Dimitrov and 24-time main champion Novak Djokovic, who claimed his first Slam title the 12 months Ivanov was born. 4 years in the past, the Bulgarian moved to Spain to coach at Nadal’s eponymous academy.
“After all, it was very troublesome as a result of I used to be away from my dad and mom and away from my mother,” Ivanov stated. “However the factor [is] that I managed to come back by means of that and they can come as a lot as potential, [so] this gave me a bit extra confidence in my choice and gave me somewhat bit extra a specific cause why ought to I do this.”
The 16-year-old defined that he has significantly loved working with the workers on the academy. Nadal additionally follows Ivanov’s progress, congratulating him after his US Open win.
“They’re all tremendous good to me, and good to everybody,” stated Ivanov, whose important coach is Jeremy Paisan. “I like that about them. I get pleasure from being within the academy, and I am so grateful to be there.”
Congratulations Ivan on successful Wimbledon?ref_src=twsrcpercent5Etfw”>@Wimbledon & @usopen Junior 🏆!
Congrats additionally to all of the @rnadalacademy workforce! 👏🏻👏🏻 https://t.co/gqzkgK3Lw2
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) September 6, 2025
Ivanov turned the third boy this century to carry the Wimbledon and the US Open trophies in the identical 12 months, becoming a member of Dimitrov and Filip Peliwo. The Bulgarian believes he first met Dimitrov at a younger age in Sofia.
“He gave me some good compliments about my recreation. He gave me some recommendation,” Ivanov stated. “I used to be very motivated to maintain going.”
That has labored for a participant who additionally enjoys golf, studying books by the likes of Jules Verne and watching motion pictures, “I prefer to be extra calm,” he stated.
However on the courtroom, Ivanov is a fiery competitor who has climbed as excessive as No. 795 within the PIF ATP Rankings. This week, he’s representing Bulgaria in Davis Cup for the primary time.
