Sang Tan/AP
WIMBLEDON - Noah Rubin, an 18-year-old qualifier from Rockville Centre, L.I., completed a stunning run through the Wimbledon boys' tournament Sunday, scoring a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 victory over No. 6 Stefan Kozlov of Pembroke Pines, Fla. to capture the most coveted junior crown in the sport.
Sang Tan/AP
Rubin, who plays for the John McEnroe Tennis Academy out of Sportime on Randalls Island, is the first American to capture the Wimbledon junior title since Donald Young in 2007. His meeting with the 16-year-old Kozlov marked the first all-American final since 1977.
The 5-9, 152-pound Rubin, playing with a scraggly beard and with the curved brim of a white hat, showed surprising power and dazzling court coverage, securing the triumph by breaking Kozlov's last two service games, getting to double break point, 15-40, in the final game with a crushed inside-out forehand for a crosscourt winner.
Rubin is coached by his longtime, mentor, Lawrence Kleger, and his father, Eric Rubin, who was in tears as he shared a hug with his son moments after the match was completed.
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