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After Gus Grumet and Andrew Johnson played each other in the ITF J60 singles final in Orlando in early July, Johnson told Grumet, “I’ll see you in the final of Clays.” Grumet responded “OK.”

Johnson proved prescient.

Singles Champion Gus Grumet
© Zoo Tennis

Grumet beat Johnson in three sets in the first Florida meeting and did it again two weeks later. The top-seeded Grumet outlasted No. 16 Johnson 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 to capture the singles title at the USTA Boys 16 Clay Court National Championships at the Delray Beach Tennis Center in Delray Beach.

Grumet, a blue chip rising junior from Mill Valley, California, won a gold ball for the first time in his career after falling short in three previous attempts. He lost in the singles finals at Easter Bowl this year and Clay Courts two years ago, and lost in the doubles final at the 2023 National Indoors.

“This was a pretty big deal for me,” Grumet said of his breakthrough win. “It felt good and felt a little bit different for me. I was playing well and I am just super happy overall with this result. I had to fight a lot to get the results I did.”