Ross McLean
10 Jul 2025
Ronit Karki, a qualifier from the United States, has reached the semi-finals at the Junior Championships, Wimbledon. He secured his spot by defeating Poland’s Alan Wazny after recovering from a set down to win 3-6 6-3 6-4. Karki is the first boy since France’s Sascha Gueymard Wayenburg in 2021 to reach the last four at a Junior Grand Slam after qualifying.
The 17-year-old will compete against Bulgaria’s Alexander Vasilev for a place in the final. The other semi-final match features Ivan Ivanov, another Bulgarian, and Germany’s Max Schoenhaus, a Roland Garros finalist. This marks the first time in 25 years that two Bulgarian boys have reached Wimbledon semi-finals since Lukaev Radoslav and Enev Todor achieved this in 2000.
Karki hails from New Jersey and this is his best performance at a Junior Grand Slam. He previously reached the second round at Roland Garros Junior Championships last month and did not advance past qualifying rounds at last year’s US Open.
Reflecting on his unexpected success, Karki expressed both surprise and self-belief. “I wouldn’t have thought it would be impossible but being in the semi-finals wouldn’t have been my expectation,” he told itftennis.com. Ranked No. 52 in ITF World Tennis Tour boys’ rankings, he remains focused on performing well in upcoming matches despite his excitement.
During Thursday’s match, temperatures soared to 31 degrees Celsius making it physically demanding for players. Karki stayed hydrated during media duties afterward and mentioned consuming food including a half-melted KitKat during play to prevent cramping.
“It is great playing a Grand Slam because you have so many facilities at your disposal – a locker room, a gym, everything you need,” said Karki about playing conditions. He appreciated having an ice towel brought onto court without requesting one as well as various foods available while competing.
Despite feeling physical discomfort with hamstring twitches during crucial moments of play against Wazny; consuming sugary snacks like KitKats helped him maintain energy levels necessary for victory: “It was melted when it got to me but that KitKat did its job.”
A complete list of results from this year’s tournament can be accessed online.