At just 18 years old, Malak El Allami has written a new page in the history of Moroccan tennis by winning the US Open Junior doubles, alongside the Norwegian Emily Sartz-Lunde. This victory is the first Grand Slam final for the young prodigy, propelling her name onto the international scene. Portrait.
HAS
The duo brilliantly dominated, this Saturday, September 7, the pair composed of the German Julia Stusek and the Czech Julie Pastikova, in three sets (6-2, 4-6, 10-6), making El Allami the first Moroccan to win a junior Grand Slam title and the second Arab to do so after the Tunisian Ons Jabeur at Roland-Garros in 2011. For the young player, this triumph is the culmination of several years of work and sacrifices: “I am very happy to win such a prestigious tournament… This consecration is the fruit of sustained efforts.”
Already a pioneer, Malak El Allami had impressed by becoming the first Moroccan to win a match at Wimbledon in juniors. In 2024, she continued her momentum by winning, alongside her compatriot Aya El Aouni, at the ITF W35 tournament in Casablanca in doubles.
Coming from a tennis-loving family, El Allami was introduced to the sport at a young age, following in the footsteps of her older sister, Fatima-Zahra, a former Moroccan and African champion. Growing up in this sporting environment, tennis became an integral part of her life and her potential was confirmed through competitions: “playing tennis was a no-brainer,” she confided in the same interview.
However, the road to success has not been without its pitfalls. At 17, Malak has faced several eliminations in major tournaments, including at the Grand Prix Lalla Meryem and Roland-Garros Juniors. After her first-round elimination at the Grand Prix Lalla Meryem, far from being discouraged, she showed unwavering determination: “I hope to progress to achieve better results in the next tournaments,” she said. This resilience is undoubtedly one of the keys to her continued success.
That same year, she took another step forward by making her first steps in the WTA Tour main draw at the Morocco Open, where she received a wildcard for both singles and doubles. This experience on the professional circuit reinforced her status as a future star of Moroccan tennis.
Among her inspirations is Tunisian Ons Jabeur, a true icon of African tennis: “Jabeur is proof that anything is possible. She fought to reach this level, and despite the obstacles, she was able to build a remarkable career,” says El Allami with admiration.
With his triumph at the US Open Junior, Malak El Allami confirms his immense potential and is already establishing himself as one of the great promises of national and world tennis.
