Swiss tennis star Henry Bernet is aiming to make the main draw of the Australian Open for the first time. The reigning junior champion has been endlessly compared to the legendary Roger Federer and is backed by a lucrative brand deal. Basel-born Bernet made history one year ago in Melbourne when he became he first Swiss player to be crowned the Australian Open boys’ singles champion. He dropped just one set as he dominated the competition.
The 18-year-old grew up playing at the same tennis club as the iconic Federer and also employs a one-handed backhand, meaning he was always going to be likened to his compatriot. Bernet also enlists the advisory help of Severin Luthi, Federer’s long-time coach. It was just before this victory that Bernet also signed a five-year deal with sportswear brand On, whose gear is worn by the likes of Iga Swiatek and is backed by Federer himself. Now, having previously reached the heights of junior world No. 1, the teenager is eyeing a run in the Australian Open proper.
Bernet began playing tennis at a young age and took his first steps at TC Old Boys in Basel, where Federer honed his skills that would lead to 20 Grand Slam wins. He soon moved to the Swiss Tennis National Centre. His one-handed backhand, a rarity among up-and-coming players, was developed as he emerged, but he admits he initially tried implementing it as a joke.
“I was pretty young. I was just practising with my coach in the club. I was always struggling with my two-hander,” he said. “My coach was like, more or less as a joke, ‘Let’s try a one-hander.’ It felt natural. It looked natural. That was the point where I decided to play the one-hander. Just developed well so far.”
These attributes, alongside his aggressive style of play and big serving, helped him to his maiden Grand Slam junior title 12 months ago, where he beat the USA’s Benjamin Willwerth 6-3 6-4 to be crowned the boys’ singles champion.
Almost a decade before Bernet was even born, Federer also won a junior Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 1998. The similarities between the two are endless and after his win, Bernet addressed them.
“I’m just trying to develop myself, yeah, kind of make my own journey,” the teenager said. “But obviously there’s always going to be some comparisons. That’s not a problem for me. It’s a motivation, too.” He admitted he’d met Federer at the 2024 US Open and added: “I mean, I would love to talk to him again. I would love to have a chat with him.”
Bernet and his coach Sven Swinnen took the leap into the professional tour throughout 2025 and he reached an ATP singles ranking high of No. 479. But he’ll have a brilliant chance to prove himself this month as he has been granted a wildcard into the Australian Open Men’s Singles Qualifying Draw.
The Swiss star was awarded this berth due to his junior title win and he will need to win three consecutive qualifying matches to secure a spot in the Australian Open main draw. This would mark a first Grand Slam main appearance if he can pull it off.
Federer first won the Australian Open in 2004 and went on to claim the title another five times before retiring. Stan Wawrinka won the Grand Slam in 2014 and fellow Swiss ace Bernet will look to make the competition a springboard for a breakout campaign.