Well, I mentioned seeds falling yesterday, but today was the real moving day at the First Republic Tiburon Challenger. And move they did!
Right out of the singles draw tumbled No. 2 seed Denis Kudla losing 6-3 6-2 to Roberto Quiroz. Lefty Quiroz played quality tennis, combined with an average performance from Kudla and that’s what you get. We all know the quality of Kudla’s game, so I’m sure Quiroz would be pleased with today’s result. Well done Roberto!
Next seed to fall was defending champion Michael Mmoh. But make no mistake the kid that took him down showed clearly that his wildcard opportunity was well deserved. Brandon Nakashima showed steely grit, maturity beyond his years and a steady game free of the unforced error count that so often plagues the new-comers. A fantastic performance sees Brandon into the third round.
Thanasi Kokkinakis showed us how he’s beaten the likes of Roger Federer in the past (2018 Miami Open)! Huge forehand! This guy can light it up from anywhere inside the fence. Edan Leshem felt the wrath of the Aussies racquet speed with Kokkinakis winning 6-4 6-0! He’s really fun to watch and next up will take on Frenchman Couacaud, No. 9 seed who’s also shown good form so far.
Chris Eubanks played big-hitting tennis because that’s what he does, with his 6’7’’ frame and ‘all-in’ mentality. He’s a force to be reckoned with this week, that’s for sure, and after dispatching with Marcelo Arévalo (much to the disappointment of many Tiburon residents) 6-4 6-4 will take on new-comer Nakashima.
This is one to plan your day around, so hopefully, tomorrow around 11:30 am I’ll see you at Centre Court. (They play 2nd match after 10 am)
Sekou Bangoura, well here’s an athlete. This guy is a thoroughbred, very capable of winning this event. He won the crowd over in minutes with incredible movement, anticipation and sublime ball striking. He proved in short order that he’s a force to be reckoned with and dispatched of 2013 Tiburon Challenger Champion Peter Polansky in straight sets 6-1 6-4.
Polansky came into the draw seeded 12th in singles and leaves tomorrow with a total game tally of 6 in singles and doubles combined. Not a great week for the lad, we hope he comes back to find the form that saw him hoist the trophy in 2013.
The ‘King of Barbados’ and 2016 Tiburon Challenger Champion Darian King survived an all-out onslaught from the ferocious ball crushing Ulises Blanch. Wowzers, this kid can absolutely demolish the ball!
Blanch took the first set 6-2 and was looking fairly comfortable in the second. However, the super chill King hung around just long enough in the second set for the pressure to build. And build it did, to boiling point and beyond. Krakatoa comes to mind, as King’s rage spilled over, his screams of disagreement clearly audible in the clubhouse. Oh well, it’s fascinating what a couple of close line calls at the wrong time can produce.
King advanced in three sets 2-6 7-6(2) 7-5. You had to feel for Blanch, this one left a mark.
It is so much fun to watch these guys play here, and to see so many spectators enjoying the show!
It’s forecast to be a lot cooler the next couple days so we’ll see if or how that influences the player’s performances, if at all.
Tomorrow
Tommy Paul faces Hugo Gaston (FRA) on Thursday, and Denis Kudla joins John Paul Fruttero in a doubles match against twins Hunter and Yates Johnson.
Full Results | September 25, 2019
Men’s Singles, Second Round
[1] T. Paul (USA) d. [WC] B. Holt (USA) 5-7 6-3 6-2
R. Quiroz (ECU) d. [2] D. Kudla (USA) 6-3 6-2
[3] M. Giron (USA) d. M. Redlicki (USA) 6-4 7-5
[WC] B. Nakashima (USA) d. [6] M. Mmoh (USA) 5-7 6-3 6-4
[7] D. King (BAR) d. U. Blanch (USA) 2-6 7-6(2) 7-5
[8] T. Kokkinakis (AUS) vs. E. Leshem (ISR) 6-4 6-0
[9] E. Couacaud (FRA) d. J. Aragone (USA) 6-3 6-1
[10] C. Eubanks (USA) d. M. Arevalo (ESA) 6-4 6-4
S. Bangoura (USA) [12] d. P. Polansky (CAN) 6-1
H. Gaston (FRA) d. [13] D. Galan (COL) 3-6 6-3 6-4
[16] M. Cressy (USA) d. J.J. Wolf (USA) 6-1 6-4
Men’s Doubles, First Round
[2] A. Lawson (USA)/J. Withrow (USA) d. H. Hach Verdugo (MEX)/D. Novikov (USA) 3-6 6-3 12-10
[3] R. Galloway (USA)/R. Maytin (VEN) d. [PR] N. Barrientos (COL)/D. Galan (COL) 6-3 6-4
[PR] N. Pasha (USA)/M. Schnur (USA) d. [4] A. Goransson (SWE)/S. Verbeek (NED) 6-3 6-7(0) 10-7
J. Aragone (USA)/D. King (BAR) d. [WC] U. Blanch (USA)/M. Redlicki (USA) 6-3 7-6(2)
