Hebrew cheers in Queens: Israeli teen Dan Brand makes his mark at US Open juniors

Israeli teen Dan Brand, 17, made a successful US Open juniors debut in Queens, New York, overcoming Australia's Daniel Jovanovski in a 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory. After a challenging first set, Brand adjusted his strategy by moving further behind the baseline and employing more spin and aggression, a change he described: "I went back and tried to open the point with a lot of spin and aggression." His positive mindset was crucial, as he stated, "I tried to be only positive in my mind and tell myself I could do it." The win was celebrated by a contingent of Israeli fans and officials, including Israel Tennis Association CEO Danny Perekalsky, who expressed pride: "We are so proud to have such a kid represent us on such a big stage of the tennis world." Brand, ranked No. 20 in junior tennis, will advance to the second round and also compete in junior doubles.