The quiet was inside Marcel Latak’s head, while a cacophonous racket for the U.S. Open Juniors final match swirled around him.
Around 3,000 people filled Court 12 at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Saturday afternoon, and just about all of them were making a lot of noise.
Brazilian fans rooted for their hero, 17-year-old top junior player Guto Miguel, who is already famous enough to have countryman and soccer legend Ronaldo come to his matches. The screams of “Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole, Guto!” were relentless.
On the other side of the court, American fans cheered for the number 41-ranked San Diego-trained Latak, despite many not knowing who he was until a few days ago.
The noise and cheering continued into the third set, the victory unknown.
Inside the 17-year-old Latak’s head, it was dead silent.
“I feel the best when I’m quiet on the court; it’s easier to think that way,” Latak said during the biggest day of his young life. “I block everything out and don’t see anything or hear anything.”
Latak’s focus worked to an amazing degree throughout the week at the U.S. Open. Seven days ago, Latak was a little-known American junior player ranked No. 41 in the world.
Today, he’s a U.S. Open champion. In a scintillating final, he outlasted and outdueled Miguel to win a titanic 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 battle, winning the final tiebreak 15-13.
The match time of 2:46 is believed to be the longest boys’ final in tournament history.
In victory, Latak became the first American boy since 2015 to win the juniors title. The last American junior to win was San Diego-native Taylor Fritz.
Latak’s San Diego-based coach, Christian Groh, could only marvel at what his young player accomplished.
“He was playing brave tennis, no matter the scoreline, and he just kept fighting,” said Groh, who has trained stars like Taylor Fritz and Tommy Haas. “He stuck with it and kept going for his shots. I’m so, so proud of him.”
Three weeks ago, Groh said he told Latak to “get his stuff together,” Groh said, using a colorful euphemism for “stuff.”
“He certainly took it to heart. Just an incredible match and I’m so happy for him.”
After coming back from a set and 3-1 down, the blonde 5-foot-11 Latak forced a third set with a late break in the second.
In the third, both players fired away from the baseline until the tiebreak, which was a whole drama all its own.
Latak earned four match points and watched them all evaporate, including on one when he double-faulted.
Miguel had three championship points of his own that Latak fought off, until finally Latak took the lead, 14-13.
Miguel served, and after a solid return, Latak crushed a forehand cross-court that drove Miguel into the doubles alley in the deuce court. The Brazilian floated a forehand right to Latak’s backhand, and Latak drove it into the open court, a shot that changed his life forever.
“The second I saw that he hit it to my backhand, I knew I was going to win the point,” Latak said. “I was just praying that he hit that forehand down the line, and he did.”
Klaudia Latak, Marcel’s mom, was a nervous wreck during all six of her son’s matches this week, and that pattern continued during the final. Marcel’s Dad, Rafal, was considering flying in for the final, and Marcel OK’d it, but because of superstition, Klaudia told him to stay home.
“It was very emotional, big stress and very nervous,” Klaudia Latak said, smiling. “He’s always dreamed about this, and he had the chance to make it happen, and he did it. So, so proud.”
Latak played a doubles final about an hour after his on-court victory ceremony for singles took place, and he was a few points away from being a two-time U.S. Open champion. Latak and partner Tanishk Konduri battled to a third-set match tiebreaker but fell to Aaron Gabet of France and Valentin Gonzalez-Galino of Spain, 6-7, 6-2, 11-9.
A short 20 minutes after the trophy ceremony for that match ended, Latak got to go on Arthur Ashe Stadium during the women’s final between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina and be introduced in front of 24,000 people.
“Incredible, that was so, so cool,” Latak said. “That place is huge!”
Latak knows his life is about to change; he’s now Top 10 in the ITF Junior rankings, and he’ll likely get wild cards into minor league pro tournaments this fall.
But in a day or two, he’ll be back with Groh working to get better, and the glow of Saturday will fade a bit.
But not quite yet.
“My days of being under the radar are gone,” he said, laughing. “I know people are coming for me now, and I just have to keep getting better, and I know Christian will make me better.
“But tonight, I’m gonna have some New York City pizza and enjoy it.”
