The 17-year-old from Aurum Tennis Academy recovered after dropping a tight opening set to take the next two in a three-set contest that lasted more than two hours. The result marks the first time a player from the academy has won a junior Grand Slam main-draw match.
Ogunsakin entered the 64-player boys’ singles draw through qualifying. He beat Poland’s Tymon Litwic 6-3, 6-0 in the first qualifying round and then upset top seed Felix Roussel of Canada 6-3, 6-4 to earn his place in the main draw. Chen, ranked 16th in the ITF junior standings, presented a sterner test as a seeded opponent.
The Nigerian saved the match after losing the first set 5-7. He broke serve to take the second set 6-3 and then held firm in a deciding set that went to 7-5. The win continues a rapid rise that has already seen him compete at three consecutive junior Grand Slams this year.
Ogunsakin first appeared at Roland Garros, then reached the boys’ singles main draw at Wimbledon and the semi-finals of the doubles event. Born on 28 February 2009, he has been Nigeria’s leading junior and previously topped the Confederation of African Tennis 14-and-under rankings.
Chen had arrived in New York as one of the stronger players in the junior field. Ogunsakin’s ability to reset after the opening set and close out the third demonstrated the composure that has marked his qualifying run.
The US Open Junior Championships continue through 12 September. Ogunsakin now moves into the second round of the boys’ singles. For a player still in his mid-teens, the first main-draw Grand Slam victory represents a clear step on the junior circuit and a notable moment for Nigerian tennis.