PARIS – Incoming UCLA men's tennis freshman Kaylan Bigun won the French Open junior boys' singles title Saturday at Stade Roland Garros, becoming the first American to accomplish the feat since Tommy Paul in 2015.
Seeded fifth, Bigun defeated Tomasz Berkieta of Poland 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the final. The title marked Bigun's first at a Grand Slam. A veteran of each major event, the left-hander from West Hollywood, Calif. made the Wimbledon boys' singles quarterfinal round in 2023 for his previous best finish.
Bigun did not drop a set until the quarterfinals, when he beat Henry Bernet of Switzerland 6-2, 5-7, 6-4. A comeback effort was needed versus second-seeded Joel Schwaerzler of Austria, as Bigun powered to a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory and spot in the championship match.
Bigun has been slotted at No. 1 in his class each of the past two years by the Tennis Recruiting Network. The Blue Chip talent recently achieved a career-high No. 6 ITF junior ranking. In May, Bigun won the prestigious Trofeo Bonfiglio, an ITF J500 event, in Milan.
Bigun, Rudy Quan (Thousand Oaks, Calif./Century Academy) and Leo von Bismarck (Aumühle, Germany/Elite School of Sports) make up the No. 4 class in the country according to the Tennis Recruiting Network.
Seeded fifth, Bigun defeated Tomasz Berkieta of Poland 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the final. The title marked Bigun's first at a Grand Slam. A veteran of each major event, the left-hander from West Hollywood, Calif. made the Wimbledon boys' singles quarterfinal round in 2023 for his previous best finish.
Bigun did not drop a set until the quarterfinals, when he beat Henry Bernet of Switzerland 6-2, 5-7, 6-4. A comeback effort was needed versus second-seeded Joel Schwaerzler of Austria, as Bigun powered to a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory and spot in the championship match.
Bigun has been slotted at No. 1 in his class each of the past two years by the Tennis Recruiting Network. The Blue Chip talent recently achieved a career-high No. 6 ITF junior ranking. In May, Bigun won the prestigious Trofeo Bonfiglio, an ITF J500 event, in Milan.
Bigun, Rudy Quan (Thousand Oaks, Calif./Century Academy) and Leo von Bismarck (Aumühle, Germany/Elite School of Sports) make up the No. 4 class in the country according to the Tennis Recruiting Network.
Incoming freshman Kaylan Bigun is the 2024 #RolandGarros boys' singles champion! ??#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/CkafgXg5xG
— UCLA Men's Tennis (@uclatennis) June 8, 2024
A first Grand Slam title ?????? pic.twitter.com/YKMewLCrsr
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2024
Congratulations Kaylan Bigun!
— USTA (@usta) June 8, 2024
A junior singles champion ?? pic.twitter.com/hKBA9UIQV1
The BIG-UN! ????
— ITF (@ITFTennis) June 8, 2024
Junior World No. 6 Kaylan Bigun wins his first Grand Slam singles title after defeating Tomasz Berkieta 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 ?? #rolandgarros | @usta pic.twitter.com/pb3HQKrp5z