One of three German boys to finish the year in the Junior Tour's 14 & Under boys' Top 10, Lucas Ariel Herrera Sanchez has had a breakthrough season in 2025.
In recent months, he's posted five podium finishes, had some deep runs at Super Category events, earned a bronze medal at the Junior Masters and a gold at the European Junior Championships in doubles (alongside compatriot Luys Calin). He’s also become one of the Junior Tour’s most popular personalities, turning heads not just for his famous ambidextrous ‘double’ forehand, but also for his smiling and friendly demeanour. Make yourself comfortable and enjoy our interview with the affable Lucas…
[We talked to Lucas several times throughout the year. The first part of this interview took place in Most at the European Junior Championships in July.]
Thanks for chatting with us. So, let’s cut to the chase, as this is what everyone wants to know. You serve with your left hand, so how did playing with 2 forehands/only hitting forehands off both sides come about?
Well, first of all I have to thank my dad. He taught me how to play like this since I started and I’ve been playing like this since I was three years old.
You must get hundreds of questions about it: are you sick of being asked about your two forehands?
Well, especially this year I’ve had many questions about it. It’s normal for me and I expect to get questions about it…and it's a pleasure always to give my special answer.
Do you ever try to hit a backhand just for fun?
Yeah, I’ve done it many times for fun and now just with my friends sometimes, but not often.
And your brother also plays the same way!
Yes, he does! We started playing tennis together and our dad taught us how to play like this and it's cool to have my brother playing the same way as me.
Who are your tennis idols?
When I started, I was obsessed with Federer. He has always been my biggest idol since I was a small kid. Right now, Sinner is one of my favourites…and Alcaraz too!
With all your tennis and travelling, how do you combine that with your schooling and education?
I go like a normal student to a normal school, but it's an international bilingual school and I attend every day from 10:30am to 4pm, so I can train before school and then when I get out, I train again. All our class exercises are available online and I have a lot of homework of course during tournaments!
What subjects do you most enjoy and least enjoy studying?
Actually, it depends - if the topic is good then maths. I don’t really like studying German (laughs). Chemistry is also another subject that is not one of my favourites!!
Just to get to know a little bit more about you, please tell us a little bit about your background because you speak Spanish as well.
Well, I'm German, I was born in Germany, I live there. My dad is from Chile, and my mum is from Argentina and I grew up in Germany ...and, well, that is my nationality!
So, you speak German, English and Spanish! And you also have another connection with Spain?
Yes, sometimes during the year we go to Castelldefels, next to Barcelona, and I train there, I have good friends there. It’s always a pleasure to be there because it feels like home and we also go there for holidays.
What's your relationship like with hard courts and how does your game differ there than here, on clay?
I had a good start to the season on hardcourts making it to the semi-finals at Les Petits As and then reaching the quarterfinals at another Super Category event in Stockholm. I feel really good on that surface but also on the clay. But now we're on clay let's see how I go and if I can improve.
Well, the Junior Masters in Monte-Carlo is on clay so…
Yes! I hope I can make it! [SPOILER ALERT: he made it!]
How did you first hear about the Tennis Europe Junior Tour?
My first TEJT tournament was at the start of 2021. My dad told me about it because he had been speaking with some friends about the Junior Tour. So, it started small, and step by step I started playing more.
What are some of your favourite events on the tour?
Les Petits As was great but all the Tennis Europe tournaments are special for me because you have a new opportunity to give your best against a lot of top juniors…and the tournaments are very popular and wonderful to play as well.
Do you like the team events?
Yes, I’m very happy to represent my country and hopefully to get some titles.
Getting back to Monte-Carlo, you said it’s a goal for you to get there…
Yes, it’s been a big goal because my ranking was bad at the start of the year, but that is my biggest goal at the moment.
In Most, Lucas was kind enough to shoot this front-on film with us, to get a better look at that famous double-forehand:
[After sealing his spot at the Junior Masters with another solid hardcourt run at the Super Category event in Barcelona, Lucas eventually claimed the bronze medal in Monte-Carlo, giving Europe’s #1 Rafael Pagonis a scare in the round-robin stages before losing to the eventual champion in three sets. We caught up with him again after his season-ending heroics…]
So, qualifying for Monte-Carlo was a goal for you this season?
Yes, actually this was the one of the main goals that I had the entire year. When I started the year, I was ranked #110 in the Race to Monte Carlo and that's why I'm happy that I qualified for this incredible tournament.
How did you feel when you found out that you had officially qualified for the Junior Masters?
I was very happy! I was quite nervous when I played the last Tennis Europe events before Monte-Carlo because I wasn't sure if I would qualify. So, it was a real big achievement just getting into this great tournament.
You had some great results here, and ended up with the bronze medal, which is a fantastic achievement. How proud are you and how would you describe your performance in your matches in Monte-Carlo?
Reaching the bronze medal match…well, I was kind of expecting more but actually being there and achieving a medal there is something really special for me, and that's why I'm pretty happy with my performance. It was like a very big dream coming true and ending up with a bronze medal: I can take that!! [Photo: Lucas receives his medal from Tennis Europe Vice President Sandi Procter and Monaco Tennis Federation President Melanie-Antoinette de Massy]
How would you describe your Tennis Europe Junior Tour experience this season?
This season was very nice actually. I made many friends. I played very, very nice tournaments in the entire year and the organisation was always great…really, I just played so many beautiful tournaments this entire year. And that's why I wanted to thank Tennis Europe for putting on these tournaments and making so many dreams come true at once. Thank you for that.
What are your tennis plans for 2026?
Probably to get into the into the Junior Masters again next year in the 16 & Under. Maybe I will play a couple of Super Categories, but now I'm looking forward to starting my grind at the ITF level. But I won’t say goodbye to Tennis Europe because I'm pretty sure that I will play some more, let's see!
Big picture: looking forward three, five, ten years, what are your dreams when it comes to tennis?
First of all, to get my first ATP points and to make it to the top 100 and then to take it step by step.
We wish you all the best and want to thank you for being so much fun throughout the year with us on social media and now for this interview!
Thank you very much for this entire interview…and thanks for everything else this year. It was a real pleasure to do all the interviews with you.