Patrick Daciek, a 35-year-old part-time player and more full-time coach from Tampa, was the winner of the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships “Wild Card” tournament at the Sea Oaks Beach & Tennis Club with a comprehensive 6-0, 6-1 final-round win over 18-year-old London Vasilescu of Atlanta and Port St. Lucie, Florida. With the win, Daciek earned a main draw singles wild card into the $15,000 Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships USTA Pro Circuit ITF World Tennis Tour event played May 4-10 also at Sea Oaks. With the runner-up finish, Vasilescu earned a wild card into the Mardy Fish qualifying rounds.
A review video of the tournament can be seen here: “Wild Card Event Magic For Mardy Fish Tennis at Sea Oaks in Vero Beach https://youtu.be/yuTfhuM2X_E?si=0psO3AB-P0MXuMvI via @YouTube
Daciek quickly became a fan favorite at the event starting with his opening round 6-4, 6-1 win over Boulevard tennis pro Ivan Ivars of Spain at the famed Sea Oaks Wednesday night featured match. Daciek’s crafty forehand and backhand slices mixed with powerful drives off both wings dazzled the crowds at Sea Oaks. Against Vasilescu, Daciek hit the shot of the tournament, connecting on a “tweener” blast passing shot to give him his first serve break of the second set.
Daciek, a former standout at Virginia Tech, has ranked as high as No. 916 in the ATP singles rankings and is currently ranked No. 2,456 in doubles, playing part-time when not coaching at his Daciek Tennis Academy in Tampa, where he works with reigning U.S. Open doubles champion and Olympic mixed doubles bronze medalist Gaby Dabrowski. He was a runner-up at the 2026 Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation doubles wild card played at The Moorings Yacht and Country Club in Vero Beach last April. He said he plans to play in the Mardy Fish main draw doubles wild card tournament at The Moorings Yacht and Country Club in Vero Beach April 22-23.
Following his win, Daciek spoke about the tournament win and how wild card tournament opportunities are more important than ever now in this interview here https://youtu.be/XqjzcDzPtgI?si=ftbRnmR5tVyDQ8aV
Vasilescu, who trains at the RPS tennis academy in Port St. Lucie, will play in his first qualifying or main draw at an ITF 15K event in Vero Beach in May, by virtue of his wild card. He was seeded No. 6 at the “Wild Card” event and beat the No. 3 seed in the quarterfinals and the No. 2 seed in the semifinals. He is planning a “gap year” after he graduates from high school before committing to potentially play college tennis. He spoke about where he is in his tennis journey after the final here: How An 11.29 Player Got An ITF World Tennis Tour 15K Qualifying Wild Card https://youtu.be/UT4dkXbt9tE?si=_KbkFbSMxQfxwthw via @YouTube
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