This week’s $100,000 ATP Challenger Tour event in Tiburon, California, has long been known as one of the most respected tournaments on the calendar, but now it will also be known for holding a record that likely won’t be broken anytime soon. On Wednesday, Canadians Philip Bester and Peter Polansky won a marathon 20-18 second set tie-break in their opening round doubles match over Darian King of Barbados and American #NextGen star Frances Tiafoe. The 38-point tie-break is the longest in Challenger doubles since the ATP began keeping records for such doubles matches in 2007. Bester/Polansky saved multiple match points to prevail in the tie-break. Including ATP World Tour matches, it is the second-longest tie-break, only behind a 25-23 marathon in a...
After being hampered by an elbow injury for several months, American teenager Michael Mmoh is finally healthy and producing the high quality tennis he’s capable of. Competing at this week’s $100,000 ATP Challenger Tour event in Tiburon, California, the 18 year old is into his first Challenger quarter-final of 2016. Mmoh ousted sixth seed and fellow American Stefan Kozlov in a second-round clash on Wednesday. The match was mentally difficult for both because they’re close friends off the court, with Kozlov even recently beating Mmoh in a game of fantasy football. Kozlov said they had to “put the friendship aside and do their best” before walking on court, but Mmoh said playing a familiar face can sometimes provide an extra...
In the midst of a resurgent 2016 campaign, Marco Chiudinelli is pushing towards a return to the Top 100 of the Emirates ATP Rankings. The 35-year-old Swiss, who has soared more than 150 spots to World No. 125, has amassed 25 wins this year on the ATP Challenger Tour and owes much of his success to a dominant run in tie-breaks. Calm under pressure, Chiudinelli established an impressive streak of 13 consecutive Challenger tie-breaks won from January to September. Despite dropping the first set 7-6(3) to eventual champion Marsel Ilhan at last week’s event in Izmir, Turkey, it will go down as the second-longest streak on the circuit since 2000. Only South Africa’s Wesley Moodie has won more tie-breaks in...
Watch American teens Michael Mmoh and Stefan Kozlov show off their fast hands with these volley hot shots in their second round meeting at the Tiburon Challenger.
Tecnifibre player Daniil Medvedev has graduated this year from ITF Futures tournaments to ATP Challenger Tour events and it may not be long before he becomes a regular fixture on the ATP World Tour. Medvedev is currently at a career-high Emirates ATP Ranking of No. 136 and is still in a position to crack the Top 100 by the end of the season.He's also vying for $50,000 in the Young Guns on the Road competition. Competing at this week’s $125,000+H ATP Challenger Tour event in Orleans, France, the 20 year old Russian defeated fourth seed and defending champion Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany in the opening round. “A lot of the guys told me how good this tournament is, but it’s...