Junior No. 1 Ivanov, 16-year-old Nadal Academy standout, 'fired up for tennis'

  • Posted: Sep 12, 2025

Rafael Nadal reached the pinnacle of the PIF ATP Rankings for the first time in August 2008, shortly after beating Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final that is widely considered one of the best matches in tennis history.

Ivan Ivanov was not born until October that year. But fast-forward 16 years and the Bulgarian trains at the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar and is the No. 1 player in the ITF Junior Rankings, fresh off victories at Wimbledon and the US Open.

There was plenty of pressure on the teen to perform in New York as the junior World No. 1 and reigning Wimbledon champion, but he showed few nerves in capturing another Slam title at Flushing Meadows.

“[It was] very tough, that’s for sure. [There were] expectations about that and all the eyes on you,” Ivanov told ATPTour.com. “It’s something that you have to take very specifically. But I managed it very well as we can see, and I’m very happy with that result.”

Ivanov does not come from a family of tennis players. But his father gave him his first racquet and he has not looked back.

“I just started playing. I met my first coach and like this [there was] just a connection and the people that were close to me, they made me fired up for tennis,” Ivanov said.

“I really loved the racquet sports at the beginning. I enjoyed watching with my mom some of the old-school tennis, like Roger and Stan. I mean, they’re not so old school, but I just loved watching them and I just wanted to try it. I tried it and I really loved it, which made me very happy about the sport.”

It All Adds Up

Stan Wawrinka, now 40, is 24 years the Bulgarian’s elder and still competing. The Bulgarian also looked up to the likes of countryman Grigor Dimitrov and 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic, who claimed his first Slam title the year Ivanov was born. Four years ago, the Bulgarian moved to Spain to train at Nadal’s eponymous academy.

“Of course, it was very difficult because I was away from my parents and away from my mom,” Ivanov said. “But the thing [is] that I managed to come through that and they are able to come as much as possible, [so] this gave me a bit more confidence in my decision and gave me a little bit more a particular reason why should I do that.”

The 16-year-old explained that he has particularly enjoyed working with the staff at the academy. Nadal also follows Ivanov’s growth, congratulating him after his US Open win.

“They’re all super nice to me, and nice to everyone,” said Ivanov, whose main coach is Jeremy Paisan. “I love that about them. I enjoy being in the academy, and I’m so grateful to be there.”

Ivanov became the third boy this century to lift the Wimbledon and the US Open trophies in the same year, joining Dimitrov and Filip Peliwo. The Bulgarian believes he first met Dimitrov at a young age in Sofia.

“He gave me some good compliments about my game. He gave me some advice,” Ivanov said. “I was very motivated to keep going.”

That has worked for a player who also enjoys golf, reading books by the likes of Jules Verne and watching movies, “I like to be more calm,” he said.

But on the court, Ivanov is a fiery competitor who has climbed as high as No. 795 in the PIF ATP Rankings. This week, he is representing Bulgaria in Davis Cup for the first time.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

Source link