It’s showdown time at the 2025 Australian Open! But hold on, the junior tournament is making waves with Henry Bernet delivering remarkable results. In the men’s final, the defending champion Jannik Sinner will take on Alexander Zverev on Sunday, while in the women’s final, we already have a stunning result with Madison Keys beating the World No. 1 and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the finals on Saturday. But on the juniors’ front, Henry Bernet is living up to his comparison to Roger Federer, defeating America’s Benjamin Willwerth 6-3, 6-4 in the final. On his 18th birthday, he became the first Swiss player ever to win the junior singles title, presenting himself with the greatest gift. And now he has another young prodigy congratulating him. Who is that?

Displaying impressive form throughout the tournament, Henry Bernet won the Australian Open boys’ title, an achievement that even his idol Roger Federer was never able to accomplish. After winning the warm-up event in Traralgon, Bernet reached Melbourne in top form, losing only one set in the tournament on his way to the final. He defeated the top seed, J. Kumstat of Czechia, in the quarterfinals and Oskari Paldanius of Finland in the semifinals, reaching the Australian Open’s final clash against America’s Benjamin Willwerth.

Ben Shelton, the 22-year-old American tennis star, was quick to congratulate Bernet on his Instagram story, writing, “Grande @henrybernet.” Shelton himself had an extraordinary run in the ongoing US Open where he made it to the semis, beating the likes of Lorenzo Musetti and Gael Monfils on the way.

The Australian Open junior tournament marked Bernet’s first time reaching a semifinal and final of a major tournament, making it an even more astonishing achievement. This success came on the back of a strong performance last season, where he debuted on the ATP Challenger Tour. He began his professional career at the $25k Muttenz Open in 2023, reaching the second round.

Both Ben Shelton and Henry Bernet are affiliated with ON, a Swiss brand known for its innovative shoes and sportswear, with Roger Federer as an investor. But that’s not the only connection Bernet has with Roger Federer.

Bernet and Federer: The Comparisons That Fuel a Rising Star

The young Swiss-born is often called Roger Federer’s natural heir. Bernet was born in Basel, and trained at TC Old Boys, the same tennis club as Roger Federer. He also employs the same rare one-handed backhand that Federer was known for, which served him well.

When asked how he handles the comparison with the Swiss maestro who won a whopping 20 Grand Slam titles throughout his career, Bernet said: “Comparisons with Federer motivate me a lot.”I’m just trying to develop myself, kind of make my own journey. “But obviously there’s always going to be some comparisons. That’s not a problem for me. It’s a motivation.”

Bernet recently announced that he would be teaming up with Federer’s former coach Severin Luthi as well. Ahead of the Australian Open, the teenager signed a five-year deal with On, the athletic clothing brand where Federer is an investor. The emerging star is the first active Swiss tennis player who has signed with the brand.

The two Swiss players also share their favorite surface, grass, and a hobby: skiing. Apart from being sponsored by the Roger Federer bac, Bernet shares the same agency as Stan Wawrinka and has trained with him previously. 

At present, Switzerland has no representation in the world’s top 100. However, Swiss fans have hopes of witnessing Federer’s glory through Bernet. The 18-year-old has shown great potential, and this year’s junior grand slam win proves he is worthy of being compared to Roger Federer. Bernet is currently ranked 784th in the world, but he is already a hit at the junior level and has an exciting season ahead of him after starting it with a major win.