Ivan Ivanov fulfills his dream and ends the season as Junior World No. 1

03.12.2025

Editorial RNA

Ivan Ivanov has put the finishing touch on an absolutely unforgettable 2025 by ending the season as No. 1 in the junior world rankings—an objective the young Bulgarian player had been pursuing for some time, and which crowns a historic campaign marked by the capture of two Grand Slam titles.

In 2025, the player trained at the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar claimed both Wimbledon and the US Open, becoming one of the few players this century capable of winning two majors in the same season—a feat that, over the past two decades, had only been achieved by his compatriot Grigor Dimitrov and Italy’s Filip Peliwo.

Throughout the year, Ivanov has shown steady progress and a level of tennis maturity that has propelled him to the top of the junior circuit. In addition to his Grand Slam triumphs, he reached the semifinals at Roland Garros and delivered outstanding performances in preparation tournaments, rounding off an unforgettable season for the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar: Jaume Munar reached the round of 16 at a Grand Slam for the first time, Alex Eala captured her first WTA title in Guadalajara (WTA 125), Dani Rincón, Abedallah Shelbayh, and Martín Landaluce all won Challenger titles, and Coleman Wong and Max Exsted earned their first main-draw victories at a major.

The support and influence of Rafa Nadal
For Ivanov, the figure of Rafa Nadal has been a constant source of inspiration throughout the process. The player himself expressed it this way after his triumph at the All England Tennis Club.
“He inspires me in so many ways. He’s the best example anyone could have—how he adapts to grass, how he plays his style, his fighting spirit. Everything about him is admirable,” , he said.

The impact of the Rafa Nadal Academy on his development

Ivanov also acknowledges the essential role the Academy has played in his athletic and personal growth since his arrival in 2020:: “It has helped me with everything: I train here, I sleep here, I study here… For me it’s a great place to be, it’s incredible. I’m very happy to play here,” he affirmed.

The player also highlights the closeness of the coaching staff who accompanied him at key moments of the season: “A great team works with me at the Academy, and they were there with me. They help me all the time throughout the process, so I’m very grateful to them .”

Rafa’s congratulatory message

Ivanov’s success has not gone unnoticed, and Rafa Nadal himself dedicated public words to him on his X account: “Congratulations to Iván for winning Wimbledon and the US Open Junior. Congratulations as well to the entire Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar team.”
.

With the world No. 1 ranking now in his hands and two Grand Slam titles in the same season, Iván Ivanov closes an exceptional year and consolidates himself as one of the most promising talents in international tennis.