Evgeny Korolev, the former world No. 46-ranked player and cousin to Russian tennis superstar Anna Kournikova, continued his return to professional tennis Saturday defeating American William Genesen, 6-2, 6-1 in the second round of qualifying at the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships.
The 28-year-old Korolev, who reached the third round of the Australian Open in 2010 and achieved his No. 46 ATP ranking in 2010, is back playing pro tennis after a year-and-half hiatus following the death of his father.
“I just said I’m done,” Korolev said of abruptly stopping his pro career. The sudden death of his father came while Korolev was playing in a tournament and was the breaking point for him in a 2014 season in which he endured many struggles. “I had too many things going on at once,” said Korolev.
After being in the Top 50 and playing in major events on a consistent basis, Korolev’s ranking had dropped outside the Top 500 and he had resorted to playing on the lowest level of professional tennis. Now, a year and a half since the death of his father, Korolev is back at the lowest level of professional tennis, but with the complete opposite mindset.
“Now things look a little different,” said Korolev, who this week has an ATP ranking of No. 1,756. “I had a feeling a couple months ago that I maybe want to play again…so far it feels good, I really enjoy what I’m doing right now.”
Korolev’s pleasure with playing tennis again was visible throughout his match with Genesen.
“This is a good feeling, a good sign for me,” said Korolev, as his clean and powerful groundstrokes built up a clear sense of confidence that he carried while on the court, and shades of the world No. 46 version of Evgeny Korolev were evident.
While he may be playing tennis at a high level once again, Korolev is remaining humble and not trying to get too far ahead of himself. “Deep inside, of course I have big goals, you know, dream big,” exclaimed, Korolev, before reassuring that returning to professional tennis on a relatively consistent basis is a long process that requires a lot of work.
“I’m not 16 or 18 anymore, so I have to really watch out for what I eat, really watch out what is my daily schedule and it’s not easy, but I just really want to take one little step at a time,” stated Korolev, before continuing with, “I don’t plan anything big…I’m here in today, here now. I have a match. I won my match. Tomorrow is another match. I’m going to try to win it and see how it goes.”
Korolev will play Jose Daniel Bendeck of Colombia in Sunday’s third round of qualifying that starts at noon. The final round of qualifying, that will determine the eight players who will reach the 32-player tournament main draw, will be played Monday starting at 10 am.
Two other notable winners on Saturday were 16-year old Patrick Kypson and 17-year old Vasil Kirkov, both under the watchful eye of Tennis Hall of Famer and Vero Beach resident Ivan Lendl. Kypson won his match over Curran Verma of Naples Fla., 6-1, 6-3, while Kirkov defeated Luca Gelhardt of Germany 6-4, 6-3. The two young Americans are working with Lendl as part of part of Lendl’s role with the USTA Player Development program.
The full qualifying draw can be seen here: https://assets-ssl.usta.com/assets/1/15/qualifying_draw515.PDF
The order of play for Sunday can be seen here: https://assets-ssl.usta.com/assets/1/15/schedule520.PDF
Tickets for the qualifying rounds of the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships from April 22 – April 25 will cost $10 and are available for sale at the club entrance. Tickets for the main draw of singles and doubles from April 26 – May 1 will be $20. Season tickets that include both the qualifying and main draw events cost $100. Advance tickets can be purchased at www.VeroBeachTennisTickets.com. Admission for children 18 and under is free. Fans can follow news and developments on the tournament on Facebook and on Twitter at @VeroFutures and by going to the website www.TennisVeroBeach.com.
Saturday’s Second Round Qualifying Results
(1/WC) Tigre Hank, Mexico d. (WC) Ignacio Martinez, United States 6-3, 6-4
Gabriel Carvajal, Ecuador d. Austin Abbrat, United States 6-3, 6-2
Michael Zhu, United States d. (WC) Jericho Grollman, United States 6-4, 6-2
(15) Alexander Merino, Peru d. Christian Vinck, Germany 7-5, 6-2
(2) Eduardo Agustin Torre, Argentina d. (WC) Ian O’Jon, United States 6-2, 6-1
Yusuke Yoshikawa, Japan d. Carlos Arana, Panama 6-3, 6-3
Andrew Ely, United States d. Joseph Rotherham, United States 7-6(5), 6-1
(10) Benjamin Hannestad, Denmark d. Alexandru Gasca-Silav, Romania 6-3, 6-1
William Howells, United States d. (3) Nathan Pasha, United States 6-3, 6-3
Sean Burnette, United States d. Thomas Cook, United States 6-3, 6-4
Kurt Thein, United States d. Hsiang-Yi Wang, Taiwan 6-0, 6-3
(13) Patrick Kypson, United States d. Curran Verma, United States 6-1, 6-3
(4) Janis Podzus, Latvia d. Tommas Carnevale-Miino, Italy 6-0, 6-1
Rowland Phillips, Jamaica d. Yili Zheng, China 6-2, 6-3
(WC) Ty Trombetta, United States d. Francesco Mowrey, United States 6-3, 6-3
Johnathan Small, United States d. (14) Antoine Leduc, Canada 6-4, 6-2
(5) Frederick Saba, United States d. Syrry Can Korkmaz, Turkey 6-2, 6-0
Vasil Kirkov, United States d. Luca Gelhardt, Germany 6-4, 6-3
Hady Habib, United States d. Aleksandar Kovacevic, United States 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
(12) Juan Rocha, Argentina d. Victor Segantini Bertoldo, Brazil 6-4, 6-4
(6) Jose Daniel Bendeck, Colombia d. Eric Morris, United States 6-4, 6-2
Evgeny Korolev, Russia d. William Genesen, United States 6-2, 6-1
Jonathan Chang, United States d. Viju George Jr., United States 6-0, 7-5
Drew van Orderlain, United States d. Alexandru Sturzu, Australia 6-1, 6-1
(7) Raleigh Smith, United States d. Patrick Davidson, United States 6-3, 6-1
Romain Nowaczyk, France d. David Pfister, United States 7-6(4), 6-4
Javier Naser, Chile d. Jonas Rodrigues 6-3, 6-3
Sami Kirberg d. Rafael Gentil 6-3, 6-4
(8) Juan Manuel Benitez Chavarriaga, Colombia d. Brian Battistone, United States 6-1, 6-4
Aron Pierce, United States d. Andrew Dottino, United States 6-3, 6-2
Michael Lippens, United States d. Jack Vance, United States 6-3, 6-4
Victor Krustev, Canada d. Bradley Holt, United States 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(5)
Sunday’s Third Round Qualifying Schedule
Not before 12:00:
(1/WC) Tigre Hank, Mexico v. Gabriel Carvajal, Ecuador
Michael Zhu, United States v. (15) Alexander Merino, Peru
(2) Eduardo Agustin Torre, Argentina v. Yusuke Yoshikawa, Japan
Andrew Ely, United States v. (10) Benjamin Hannestad, Denmark
William Howells, United States v. Sean Burnette, United States
Kurt Thein, United States v. (13) Patrick Kypson, United States
(4) Janis Podzus, Latvia v. Rowland Phillips, Jamaica
(6) Jose Daniel Bendeck, Colombia v. Evgeny Korolev
Not before 13:00:
(WC) Ty Trombetta, United States v. Johnathan Small, United States
(5) Frederick Saba, United States v. Vasil Kirkov, United States
(8) Juan Manuel Benitez Chavarriaga, Colombia v. Aron Pierce, United States
Michael Lippens, United States v. Victor Krustev, Canada
Not before 13:30:
(7) Raleigh Smith, United States v. Romain Nowaczyk, France
Javier Naser, Chile v. Sami Kirberg, United States
Jonathan Chang, United States v. Drew van Orderlain, United States
Hady Habib, United States v. (12) Juan Rocha, Argentina
Tournament match start times are as follows:
Noon Sunday, April 24 (Qualifying Rounds)
11 am Monday, April 25 (Qualifying Rounds End)
10 am Tuesday, April 26 Not before 6 pm Night Match (Main Draw Starts)
10 am Wednesday, April 27, Not before 6 pm Night Match (Main Draw)
10 am Thursday, April 28, Not before 6 pm Night Match (Main Draw)
10 am Friday, April 29 Not before 6 pm Night Match (2nd Doubles Semifinal)
1 pm, 3 pm Saturday, April 30, Singles semifinals
11 am Sunday, May 1 (likely doubles championship match first, followed by singles championship match at 1 pm, depending on if a player is competing in both finals)
Starting in 2016, the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation is the new operator of the $10,000 “Futures” tennis tournament in Vero Beach, one of the longest-running and best attended events on the U.S. Tennis Association Pro Circuit. The tournament, now called The Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships, benefits the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation, the non-profit tennis foundation benefiting children, named for Vero Beach native son Mardy Fish, a former top 10 tennis star, U.S. Davis Cup hero and silver medalist at the 2004 Olympic Games. The event was managed for 20 years by Vero Beach tennis teaching professional Mike Rahaley, who made the annual Vero Beach stop one of the crown jewels on the USTA Pro Circuit. The 2016 tournament will be held April 22 through May 1 at The Boulevard Tennis Club.
Founded in 2007, the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation (www.MardyFishFoundation.com and @MardyFishFound on Twitter) currently supports over 2,100 children in 15 elementary schools and six middle schools in Indian River County, Florida by providing after-school exercise, nutritional and enrichment programs in a safe environment to prepare them for healthy, productive and successful lives. The Foundation introduced the “Six Healthy Habits” in 2012 which are Get Sleep; Drink Water; Exercise Daily, Eat Healthy; Brush and Floss; Make Friends.” Mardy Fish recently completed his ATP professional tennis career at the 2015 U.S. Open, highlighted by a career-high ranking of No. 7, six ATP singles titles, eight ATP doubles titles and an Olympic silver medal in singles at the 2004 Olympics. He reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open and was a mainstay on the U.S. Davis Cup team from 2002 to 2012.
Some of the past competitors in Vero Beach have gone on to succeed at the highest levels of professional tennis, winning major singles and doubles titles, Olympic medals and Davis Cup championships and earning No. 1 world rankings. Andy Roddick, the 2003 U.S. Open champion who attained the world No. 1 ranking and helped the United States win the Davis Cup in 2007 competed in Vero Beach in 1999. Thomas Johansson of Sweden, who reached the second round of the Vero Beach Futures in 1995, won the Australian Open seven years later in 2002. Nicolas Massu, the 1998 singles runner-up in Vero Beach, won the singles and doubles gold medals at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, beating Fish in the gold medal singles match. Kyle Edmund, the 2013 champion in Vero Beach, helped Great Britain to the Davis Cup title in 2015. Other notable former competitors in Vero Beach include former world No. 2 Magnus Norman, former world No. 4 Tim Henman, 2016 Australian Open semifinalist Milos Raonic among others. Former Vero Beach competitors have combined to win 19 titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles at Grand Slam tournaments. Six former Vero Beach players have gone on to play Davis Cup for the United States – Roddick, Fish, Taylor Dent, Jared Palmer, Donald Young and Ryan Harrison.
Sponsors and supporters of the event are as follows:
Grand Slam Sponsors
SorensenRealEstate.com
Boston Barricade
Laser Spine Institute
George E. Warren Corp.
Indian River Medical Center
Syde Hurdus Foundation
PNC Bank
Backhand Sponsors
John’s Island Real Estate
Coastal Van Lines Storage
Indian River Press Journal / TCPalm.com
Barbara Ettinger
Dr. Larry Landsman
Dr. John Sarbak
Citrus Grillhouse
White Orchid Day Spa
Gene Simonsen
Michael & Kathleen Pierce
Center Court
Publix
Indian River Oxygen
Forehand Sponsors
Rosato Plastic Surgery Center
Kay C. Betancourt, DMD
Jeff & Rosanne Susi
Mello Financial
Jean Ueltschi
Sam & Susie Bell
Cravings
Sue Powell Rentals
William Barhorst
Peter Bernholz Family
Don & Linda Proctor
The Whole Person Project, Inc.
Ocean Drive Plastic Surgery
Ocean Drive Elite Physiques
Huryn Construction
Riverside Café
Barker Air Conditioning
Bill & Laurie Stewart
Steve McCloud / Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
Coggin BMW of Ft. Pierce / Mercedes of Ft. Pierce
Twig Swim & Sportswear Shop
Osceola Bistro
Supporting Sponsors and Patrons
The Moorings Yacht & Country Club
New Leaf Designs
A Pampered Life / Disney Spa
Carpe Antiperspirant Hand Lotion
Robert Kowalczyk – Moorings Yacht & Country Club
Win Detergent
Calvetti & Company
NewChapterMedia.com
Steve Hardin – Twin Oaks Tennis Club
Aurelija Merrill – John’s Island Club
Carol Donnelly
Roy & Tish Wissel
Boast
Hutchinson’s Florist
Casey’s Restaurant
Chelsea’s Market
Tennis Resort at the ESPN Wide World of Sports at Disney
Sassy Boutique
Quail Valley Club
Bottle Shop
Busy Bee
Veranda
Avanzare
Maison Beach Gifts
Center for Advanced Eye Care
Diamond Resorts International
Monreal London
Rock City Gardens
Tina Simone Company
Pogues, Inc.
Kevin Healy, M.S., D.S.
Chiropractic Nutrition and Wellness
Treasure Coast Sports Commission
Saddlebrook Academy
Nailtiques
Sam Garcia – Quail Valley Club
Dr. Raymond Della Porta, D.M.D.
Yulin Day Spa
Pat Gorman – Bent Pine Golf Club
Frosting
Grind & Grape bar & grill
JMcLaughlin
Vero Beach Yoga Barre
Ken & Annette Krasnow
Indian River County School District
Body Network
Studio Gabriel
Quinn Hiaason
Tommy Falcone
Sandy Malone
Spring Hill Suites by Marriott
Vero Beach Inn & Suites
Seaside Grill
Swarovski Jewelry
Minuteman Press
Dr. Michele Maholtz
Jony Leitenbauer and Tom Fish – Windsor Club
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