Tennis

Andy Murray’s Scottish protege’s stunning run at Junior US Open comes to an end

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2 weeks ago

September 6, 2024

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Andy Murray’s Scottish protege’s stunning run at Junior US Open comes to an end

IT was an incredible run for young Scot Charlie Robertson at the US Open Juniors.

But it has ended in heartbreak.

Charlie Robertson lost in the semi-finals of the US Open Juniors

Murray has taken Robertson under his wing

The 17-year-old from Guthrie in Angus was on the cusp of emulating his hero Andy Murray in New York by winning the boys’ US Open – 20 years on from when the Dunblane ace achieved the feat himself.

Robertson has been mentored by Murray in recent months, revealing that the three-time Grand Slam champion and double Olympic gold medallist has “helped him a lot” and that “if I asked him anything, he would give his honest answer”.

He didn’t drop a set on his way to the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows, racking up impressive victories over Flynn Thomas of Switzerland and 11th seed Jangjun Kim from South Korea in the quarters and round of 16 respectively.

He started the tournament with a straight sets win against Spaniard Andres Santamarta Roig and followed that up with a take down of home challenger Alexander Razeghi, formerly ranked tenth in the world at junior level.

Coming into the event, Robertson had reached the final of the College Park Maryland J300 tourmanent, losing to world number 16 Rafael Jodar of Spain.

Jodar, 17, was in the other half of the draw for this one and Robertson could have met him in the final if he made it there.

But the Scot was stopped by the number one seed, Nicolai Budkov Kjær.

The 18-year-old from Norway, who won the Wimbledon Boys’ Singles title in July and reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open Juniors earlier this year, defeated Robertson 6-3, 6-3 to book his place in the final in New York.

Robertson struggled slightly with his serve and hit 12 winners to Budkov Kjaer’s 17. He also committed more unforced errors, with 35 compared to the Norwegian’s 24.

Ranked 23 in the world and number one in Great Britain for under-18s, Robertson had the opportunity to train with his idol Murray during the grass court season.

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He hit with him at Queen’s Club and then joining the 37-year-old at a special camp in Greece.

Judy Murray has been keeping a close eye on his development too and she wished him well after his battling exit stateside.

She posted on Twitter (now X): “A great American swing comes to an end for Charlie Robertson.

“Final of the warm up event at College Park Maryland and semi-final US Open Juniors.

“Lots to build on and lots to look forward to.”

Robertson himself has said of his next steps, before the semi-final loss: “I still have a bit of time afterwards, depending on how I do here.

“If I make the junior masters [the season-ending finals], I will play that. Other than that, I think I’ll just go on the [professional] Futures tour.”

Robertson was not the only young Brit to reach the last four of their event.