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At Australian Open, a Legacy Tracing Back to a Backyard in Mexico

Asanka Brendon Ratnayake for The New York Times

MELBOURNE, Australia — Emilio Nava stood at the microphone on the court of Rod Laver Arena and smiled broadly.

“Wow,” he said, smiling again. “Wow.”

It was hard to know he had just lost. Nava, 17, seeded 13th, saved three championship points and held one of his own before falling, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (12), to top-seeded Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the Australian Open boys’ singles final on Saturday. (On Friday, Nava lost in the boys’ doubles final.)

Despite the double dose of disappointment, he remained undimmed.