Seventeen-year-old Canadian Denis Shapovalov has shown signs that he is ready to take the tennis world by storm in recent weeks, and he has no plans of slowing down during his visit to the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships.
“I definitely wasn’t expecting to play this well at the start of the year,” said Shapovalov, who defeated Eduardo Agustin Torre 6-4, 6-2 in first-round play at The Boulevard Tennis Club 6-4, 6-2. The left-handed Canadian has already captured three “Futures-level” titles this year and has seen his ATP ranking jump 678 spots to his current standing of No. 452.
Shapovalov, despite his great run of form in 2016, got out to a slow start against Torre.
“It’s always tough playing a first round match…it was pretty tough in the first set,” said Shapovalov.
The Argentinian Torre was making his presence felt as he had four break points, but was unable to convert any of them. One of those break points for Torre came at 4-4 and was the turning point in the match. Torre hit a powerful return and Shapovalov’s reply was a shank forehand that landed out, making Torre think he had just broke and would serve for the first set. What Torre did not realize was that the chair umpire had called the serve out and, after a lengthy discussion with the chair umpire and Shapovalov, Torre reluctantly returned to his position on the baseline and proceeded to miss the next return.
“I felt like he mentally dropped a little bit,” said Shapovalov, and he took full advantage of that opportunity.
From there, Shapovalov went on to hold his serve for 5-4 and broke Torre’s serve in the next game to win the set, 6-4, allowing himself to open up the match.
“In the second set I felt more comfortable out there, I felt like I could go for my shots way more,” said Shapovalov, who next plays former University of Michigan standout Michael Zhu at 6 pm on Thursday night.
Another 17-year-old, Gianni Ross of Boca Raton, Fla., also won his first-round match on Wednesday, defeating former University of Illinois All-American Dennis Nevolo 6-3, 6-3.
Earning the win didn’t start for Ross when he walked onto the court today, though. “It started, honestly, from two weeks ago when we came here,” said Ross as he praised the work that his coach and USTA Player Development consulting coach Ivan Lendl has put him through in preparation for this tournament during training sessions at The Windsor Club.
Working with Lendl has been a valuable experience for Ross, and fellow American teenagers Vasil Kirkov, Sam Riffice and Patrick Kypson, who all competed in the main draw and qualifying rounds this week in Vero Beach. Ross said there is no shortage of motivation between the four young Americans, especially comes when working with Lendl. “We do have a competition between all four of us…but Ivan is just an extra push,” said Ross. “I mean, working with an eight-time grand slam champion…he’s just incredible.”
Ross, who is hoping to earn his way into the main draw of the French Open juniors event in the beginning of June, will be travelling to Europe to play a few juniors events throughout May. Before then, Ross will take on Roberto Quiroz of Ecuador in the second round on Thursday.
Wednesday’s First Round Singles Results
(1) Gonzalo Escobar, Ecuador d. Miomir Kecmanovic, Serbia 7-5, 6-1
(WC) Gianni Ross, United States d. (4) Dennis Nevolo, United States 6-3, 6-3
Roberto Quiroz, Ecuador d. (Q) Raleigh Smith, United States 7-5, 6-4
Daniel Garza, Mexico d. (6) Federico Zeballos, Bolivia 6-3, 6-1
(Q) Juan Manuel Benitez Chavarriaga, Colombia d. (7) Felipe Mantilla, Colombia 0-6, 6-3, 6-3
(Q) Ty Trombetta, United States d. (Q) Hady Habib, United States 6-2, 6-2
(Q) Michael Zhu, United States d. (WC) Pietro Rimondini, United States 7-6(6), 6-1
(3) Denis Shapovalov, Canada d. (Q) Eduardo Agustin Torre, Argentina 6-4, 6-2
Mauricio Echazu, Peru d. (Q) William Howells, United States 6-3, 6-3
(Q) Evgeny Korolev, Russia d. (WC) Sam Riffice, United States 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
(2) Deiton Baughman, United States d. Junior Alexander Ore, United States 6-3, 6-3
Wednesday’s Quarterfinal Doubles Results
(1) Deiton Baughman, United States/Anderson Reed, United States d. Peter Nagy, Hungary/Denis Shapovalov, Canada 6-4, 6-4
Gonzalo Escobar, Ecuador/Roberto Quiroz, Ecuador d. Ruben Gonzales, Philippines/Dennis Nevolo, United States 6-2, 7-5
Miomir Kecmanovic, Serbia/Jonas Luetjen, Germany d. (3) Juan Sebastian Gomez, Colombia/Felipe Mantilla, Colombia 6-2, 6-0
Janis Podzus, Latvia/Martins Podzus, Latvia d. Jose Daniel Bendeck, Colombia/Alejandro Mendoza, Bolivia 6-1, 6-2
Thursday’s Schedule
Stadium (Starting at 10AM)
Jonas Luetjen, Germany v. Mauricio Echazu, Peru
Not before 11AM
(LL) Vasil Kirkov, United States v. Daniel Garza, Mexico
Not before 1PM
(2) Deiton Baughman, United States v. (Q) Evgeny Korolev, Russia
Not before 3PM
Miomir Kecmanovic, Serbia/Jonas Luetjen, Germany v. Janis Podzus, Latvia/Martins Podzus, Latvia
Not before 6PM
(3) Denis Shapovalov, Canada v. (Q) Michael Zhu, United States
Grandstand (Starting at 10AM)
(5) Juan Sebastian Gomez, Colombia v. Martins Podzus, Latvia
Not before 11AM
(1) Gonzalo Escobar, Ecuador v. Marcelo Tomas Barrios Vera, Chile
Not before 1PM
(WC) Gianni Ross, United States v. Roberto Quiroz, Ecuador
Not before 3PM
(Q) Juan Manuel Benitez Chavarriaga, Colombia v. (Q) Ty Trombetta, United States
Not before 5PM
(1) Deiton Baughman, United States/Anderson Reed, United States v. Gonzalo Escobar, Ecuador/Roberto Quiroz, Ecuador
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
Tournament match start times are as follows:
10 am Thursday, April 28, Not before 6 pm Night Match (Main Draw)
11 am Friday, April 29 Not before 6 pm Night Match
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 Private Mortgage Banking
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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