MELBOURNE, Australia - Caroline Wozniacki can now welcome another Dane to the Grand Slam club.

Sixteen-year-old Clara Tauson won the junior girls' singles title at the Australian Open on Saturday, defeating Canada's Leylah Fernandez inside Rod Laver Arena, 6-4, 6-3. 

The top seed won her last 12 sets of the tournament after a shock 6-1 opening set in the first round against wildcard Anastasia Berezov - a match she eventually rallied to win, 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 to begin her championship run.

"I wasn't expecting actually to win here after the fourth round. I kept working hard and had some tough matches in the beginning. I got through it, so I'm very happy about that," she assessed.

"I feel like it was a big court. We haven't played on it either of us. We just warmed up on Rod Laver, so I think both of us were nervous. She was playing really good in the beginning.

"I feel like I won because I kept fighting and try to get my emotions, keep my emotions."


The Dane won three of the last four games to wrestle the opening set away from the No.4 seed, after the two traded breaks across the fifth and sixth games.

Tauson's lead built to 6-4, 4-1 in the second set before the left-handed Canadian began to battle back, twice breaking the top seed's serve and saving a match point along the way late in the set.

However, the Dane had her way on return, and ultimately broke Fernandez the last four times the Canadian served to seal her first-ever Grand Slam title.

Tauson joins Wozniacki as a junior Grand Slam champion from their country, as the former WTA World No.1 won the girls' singles title at Wimbledon in 2006.

Wozniacki was also the runner-up to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova Down Under in that same year, before winning the women's singles title last year.

"She's a big inspiration for everyone in Denmark playing tennis and other sports," Tauson said of her elder compatriot.

"We say hi whenever we see each other. I've practiced with her, too."

Tauson is also the first No.1 seed to win a girls' singles Grand Slam title since Belinda Bencic won the 2013 Wimbledon title, and is undefeated in the junior ranks dating back to the US Open.

"1 knew that after going here I would play some more pro tournaments, I don't think it's going to change anything about my plans," she said.

"The start of the year has been good for me. I'm not thinking about too much if I never lose a match in juniors any more because I will. I'm very happy about the last 12 matches."