Bonding and Gusic Wan to face off in LTA’s Junior National Tennis Championships

Top seed Oliver Bonding will take on second seed Benjamin Gusic Wan in the final of the 16U Boys’ Singles LTA’s Junior National Tennis Championships on Friday after the duo prevailed in high-quality semi-finals on Thursday.

Surrey’s Bonding, who is ranked No.40 in the ITF junior rankings, produced an impressive display to beat Cheshire’s Alfie King 6-1 6-3 in a match played indoors at the LTA’s National Tennis Centre due to rain in Roehampton.

Bonding, who is working with Andy Murray’s former coach Miles Maclagan, is relishing the chance to compete for one of the most prestigious prizes in British tennis.

With 10 British players currently in the top 100 of the ITF Junior rankings, the most in recent memory, Bonding is looking to follow in the footsteps of Jack Draper, Dan Evans and Paul Jubb by winning the LTA Junior National Championships and he is relishing his battle with Gusic Wan.

“This was by far my best match of the week,” said Bonding, who lives in Wimbledon. “I hit my serve and forehand well and conditions are a little warmer inside. The ball grips the strings a bit more and I like that.

“It’s great to get to the final, but I have been trying not to put too much pressure on myself this week and that is important.

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“There is a thought at the back of your mind that you are the favourite to win and I will do everything to achieve that, but I look at the bigger picture. Winning this tournament won’t change my career one way or the other.

“It will be a tough match against Benjamin tomorrow and I’m looking forward to it.”

Kent’s Gusic Wan was pushed all the way by Avon’s Zechariah Hamrouni before he clinched a 1-6 6-0 7-5 win in a match that was decided by the finest of margins.

“Zechariah played an unreal first set,” said Gusic Wan. “Then I got my serve going and the third set was close.

“Now I’m looking forward to the final now. I played Oliver in the County Cup and managed to beat him in three sets. It’s always a good battle between us two.”

The winners of the LTA Junior National Championships will be awarded wild cards into the draw for the Wimbledon Junior Championships and major junior events being staged in the UK later this year.