It’s turned into a break-through 10 days of tennis in Vero Beach for American teenager Sam Riffice.
The 18-year old from Roseville, Calif., reached a singles final for the first time at a professional tennis tournament when he defeated Julien Cagnina of Belgium 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 Saturday in the semifinals of the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships at Grand Harbor Golf & Beach Club.
“I felt like I had a game-plan in place and I really executed it in the first and third sets,” said Riffice, who has trained often in Vero Beach the last two years with USTA Player Development consultant and Vero Beach resident Ivan Lendl. “I was just going for my shots and they were going in. I was really feeling good today.”
Riffice will play top-seeded Calvin Hemery of France in Sunday’s noon final at Grand Harbor. Hemery advanced when his opponent, Gavin van Peperzeel of Australia, was forced to quit his match with a left-knee injury after losing the first set 6-3.
The win for Riffice over Cagnina was the teenager’s eighth match victory in a row since last Friday in Vero Beach. Riffice won four matches in the qualifying tournament from Friday, April 21 to last Tuesday to gain admittance into the 32-player main of the tournament. Riffice followed that with four more wins in the main draw of the event since Wednesday, including Saturday’s win over Cagnina. By reaching the final, Riffice will crack the top 1,000 of the ATP World Tour rankings as he plays on these entry-level “Futures” pro tournaments that are part of the USTA Pro Circuit while also playing on the top level of international junior tennis, including the junior Grand Slam tournaments later this summer at the French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.
Riffice got off to a hot start, breaking Cagnina in his first service game of the match and jumping out to a 3-0 lead. Cagnina eventually drew even, but with the Belgian serving at 3-4, Riffice was able to break serve before closing out the first set 6-3.
Roles reversed in the second set as Cagnina was the one getting an early break. Riffice had some fight in him early to get the initial break back, but the veteran clay-courter Cagnina regrouped and won the last four games of the set.
“I tried to rally with him too much in the second,” said Riffice, the No. 30-ranked junior player in the world. “I was still going for it. He was just running me side to side. I was dying.”
In the third, Riffice’s fitness work with Lendl and USTA Player Development paid off as he found a second wind and endured until the end. He got an early break to take a 3-1 lead, and saved break points in the very next game to go up 4-1.
After Cagnina missed on that break point opportunity, the match was very close to being over. Riffice breezed through his next service game before racing out to a 0-40 lead on Cagnina’s serve at 5-2. A ground stroke was sent wide by the Belgian on match point, sending Riffice into his first professional final.
“I knew he was a really good clay-court player,” Riffice said of Cagnina. “I was just trying to take every advantage I could and take every ball early and just go for my shots and it paid off.”
In the second semifinal, it was apparent throughout the match that van Peperzeel was struggling with a leg issue, and losing the first set was the final sign that he needed to forfeit the match. The Australian had come back from a set and a break down in his last two matches that added to the wear and tear on his knee.
“I’m so sorry for Gavin because he is my friend and he’s a very good player,” Hemery said. “I don’t like to win like this.”
The win for Hemery, ranked No. 298 in the ATP World Tour rankings, puts him into his second straight singles final on the USTA Pro Circuit after losing in the final last week in Orange Park, Fla., just outside of Jacksonville. For Hemery, there will be a little extra motivation in thIS final. He does not want to fall at the final hurdle of a tournament two weeks in a row, plus Riffice defeated Hemery’s friend and doubles partner Cagnina in the semifinals. Cagnina and Hemery will also contest the doubles final on Sunday after the singles final.
“I know Riffice is a very good player. He just beat my friend,” Hemery said. “I’m so sad I wanted to play against my friend. But I will try to get his revenge.”
The full Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships tournament schedule is as follows. Tournament information can also be found at www.TennisVeroBeach.com
To see all updated draws, click here: https://www.usta.com/en/home/pro/pro-tennis-events/men-s-tournament-information.html
Sunday, April 30
Noon, Singles Final – Sam Riffice (USA) vs. Calvin Hemery (FRA)
Doubles Final To Follow
Calvin Hemery (FRA) and Julien Cagnina (BEL) vs. Alex Blumenberg and Thales Turini (BRA)
The Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships has been played in Vero Beach since 1995 and is regarded as one of the best entry-level professional tennis tournaments in the world. Proceeds from the event benefit the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation (www.MardyFishFoundation.com), the non-profit tennis foundation benefiting children, named for Vero Beach native son Mardy Fish, the former top 10 tennis star and a U.S. Davis Cup standout.
Advance tickets for the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships are available at www.VeroBeachTennisTickets.com. Season tickets for all 10 days of the competition are available for $100. Daily buy-one-get-one free tickets for the qualifying rounds April 21-24 are for sale for $10, with daily tickets for the main draw sessions April 25-30 for sale for $20. A special “Happy Hour” ticket is available for $10 after 5 pm for night sessions on Tuesday, April 25 – Friday, April 28 that includes a featured 7 pm night match. Admission for children 18 and under is free. Tickets are also sold at the front gate. Approximately 3,000 fans annually attend the event, which is seen as one of the best-attended events in the world on the “Futures” level of professional tennis tournaments. The 2016 event featured 13 players who played Davis Cup for their country and was won by Jonas Luetjen of Germany, who defeated Latvian Davis Cupper Martins Podzus in the final.
Some of the past competitors at the USTA Vero Beach Futures 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 Wimbledon finalist 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 Yo
ung and Ryan Harrison.
Corporate sponsors and donors for the 2017 tournament include PNC Bank, Boston Barricade, George E. Warren Corporation, Indian River Medical Center, Jake Owen Foundation, Syde Hurdus Foundation, Indian River Oxygen, Citrus Grillhouse, Coastal Van Lines, Rossway Swan, Publix, Ryan A. Jones and Associates, Tom Collins Insurance Agency, Vocap Partners, Riverside Café, Center Court Outfitters, David Walsh and Associates Real Estate, Peter Bernholz Family, John’s Island Real Estate, Gene Simonsen, Michael & Kathleen Pierce, Steve and Karen Rubin, Rob and Mickey Stein, William Barhorst, Dan Holman, John Klein, Mello Financial Services, Ocean Drive Elite Physiques, Rosato Plastic Surgery, Captain Hiram’s Resort, Absolute Protection Team, Minuteman Press, Technifibre, TeamChristopher.com, Fit for Life Strength, Diamond Resorts International, Wilson, Don Herrema and Lori Ford.
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
Ivan Lendl
Vasil Kirkov Goes From Courts In Vero Beach To The U.S. Open
By Randy Walker
@TennisPublisher
Vasil Kirkov has gone from the courts of Vero Beach to the courts of the US Open.
The 17-year-old, who reached the semifinals as a lucky loser in the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships, competed in the qualifying rounds of the 2016 U.S. Open at the Billie Jean King USTA National Tennis Center.
Kirkov, however, suffered an early exit, falling 62 75 in the first scheduled match of the competition to Yannik Reuter of Belgium, ranked No. 242 in the world.
Kirkov, ranked No. 1146 in the world, played the match on Court No. 5 – the shadow of the new Arthur Ashe Stadium retractable roof – in front of an audience of about 200 people that included U.S. Olympic men’s tennis coach Jay Berger, former US Davis Cup Captain Tom Gullikson and Hallof Famer – and Vero Beach resident – Ivan Lendl, who works with Kirkov as part of his advisory role with the USTA Player Development program.
Kirkov was awarded a wild card entry into the U.S. Open qualifying tournament by the U.S. Tennis Association after, not only his strong result in Vero Beach, that saw his ATP ranking rise almost 1000 spots, but by reaching the final of the USTA National Boy’s 18 Championships in Kalamazoo, Mich., where he lost to another Vero Beach Futures alumnus Michael Mmoh.
Kirkov is expected to compete in the U.S. Open junior championships in two weeks.
American Teenager Vasil Kirkov Makes Most Of "Lucky Loser" Status
Seventeen-year-old Vasil Kirkov was at his hotel eating lunch Monday when his fortunes at the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships turned lucky.
It was there that he learned that he had received a “lucky loser” entry into the main draw of the tournament after losing in the final-round of qualifying earlier on Monday.
“I got a phone call from my coach saying that I got in,” said Kirkov. “I was kind of shocked.”
The American from Tampa, Fla., who trains part-time in Vero Beach with Tennis Hall of Famer Ivan Lendl, was able to cash in on his good fortune by beating Alejandro Mendoza of Bolivia Tuesday in the first round 6-4, 7-6(4).
After losing in the final round of the qualifying tournament to fellow American Hady Habib, Kirkov’s chances of getting into the main draw of the tournament appeared over. However, when Alejandro Gomez of Colombia pulled out of the tournament, Kirkov was the lucky recipient of that vacant spot in the draw, what is known in tennis as a “lucky loser” spot. Kirkov’s name was randomly drawn among the players who lost in the final round of qualifying to replace Gomez.
Against Mendoza, not much separated Kirkov with the nine-years senior Mendoza as nine of their 22 games, not including the tiebreak, went to deuce, but what won the match for Kirkov was his mental game.
“I did a good job of being aware of what I had to do and what was going on,” said Kirkov.
That mental strength can be attributed, in part, to his work with Lendl, an eight-time major champion working as a coaching consultant for the USTA Player Development program.
Kirkov’s aggressiveness and willingness to come to the net often was what allowed him to apply pressure on Mendoza and eventually pull out the win, a valuable one that earned him his second ATP ranking point and will see him enter inside the Top 2000 of the ATP rankings, though Kirkov is not too concerned about that.
“Mostly experience and playing against these big guys,” is what Kirkov said he takes out of these “Futures” level professional tournaments. “It still helps to have [the rankings points].”
Kirkov’s next match will be played against the winner of the No. 6 seed Federico Zeballos of Bolivia or the 2011 Vero Beach champion Daniel Garza of Mexico.
Another notable winner on Tuesday was Jonas Luetjen, a 25-year-old from Germany who played college tennis at Ole Miss. Luetjen defeated the No. 8 seed Peter Nagy, a Davis Cup team member from Hungary, 6-3, 6-4.
“It makes me feel really good…I expected a tough game, but I was ready for it,” said Luetjen of his win over Nagy.
“Second set I got a little tight…but I stayed mentally strong, physically strong and I’m glad I got through in straight sets.”
Luetjen has battled injuries throughout his career but is glad to be back on court and playing well again. “I’ve played the whole year without injuries and that’s the biggest thing…I’m feeling very well and I’m blessed to be out here still playing.”
The 25-year old may not have been playing in this tournament, or any professional tournament in 2016, if it weren’t for his experience at Ole Miss, claiming “if I would not have gone to college I would not be out here still playing.”
The experience helped him become a better player and has prepared him for the grueling life on the tour.
“These four years were probably the best of my life and you can develop so much physically, mentally,” he said. “I would do it all over again.”
Luetjen, who has already reached a final and two quarterfinals in 2016, will face off next against either 17-year old qualifier William Howells of Boca Raton, Fla., or Peruvian Davis Cupper Mauricio Echazu.
In the late doubles match, Mike Alford, the teaching pro at the Quail Valley Club in Vero Beach, and his former Florida Gator teammate Billy Federhofer lost 6-3, 7-5 to Hungarian Davis Cupper Peter Nagy and 17-year-old Canadian upstart Denis Shapovalov.
First Round Singles Results
Marcelo Tomas Barrios Vera, Chile d. (WC) Adam Ambrozy, United States 6-3, 6-3
Martins Podzus, Latvia d. Jorge Montero, Chile 6-2, 6-4
(5) Juan Sebastian Gomez, Colombia d. Matias Franco Descotte, Argentina 6-2, 6-2
(LL) Vasil Kirkov, United States d. Alejandro Mendoza, Bolivia 6-4, 7-6(4)
Jonas Luetjen, Germany d. (8) Peter Nagy, Hungary 6-3, 6-4
First Round Doubles Results
(1) Deiton Baughman, United States/Anderson Reed, United States d. (WC) Antonio Balau, Brazil/Igor Schattan, Brazil 6-3, 6-1
Peter Nagy, Hungary/Denis Shapovalov, Canada d. (WC) Michael Alford, United States/William Federhofer, United States 6-3, 7-5
Ruben Gonzales, Philippines/Dennis Nevolo, United States d. (4) Mauricio Echazu, Peru/Federico Zeballos, Bolivia 4-6, 6-2, 10-7
Gonzalo Escobar, Ecuador/Roberto Quiroz, Ecuador d. (WC) Thomas Cook, United States/Nathan Pasha, United States 6-3, 6-3
Miomir Kecmanovic, Hungary/Jonas Luetjen, Germany d. Brian Battistone, United States/Isaiah Strode, United States 6-4, 7-6(9)
(3) Juan Sebastian Gomez, Colombia/Felipe Mantilla, Colombia d. Geronimo Espin Busleiman, Argentina/Eduardo Agustin Torre, Argentina 6-4, 6-2
Janis Podzus, Latvia/Martins Podzus, Latvia d. Alexander Merino, Peru/Michael Zhu, United States 6-3, 6-1
Jose Daniel Bendeck, Colombia/Alejandro Mendoza, Bolivia d. Jack Vance, United States/Jamie Vance, United States 6-0, 6-2
Wednesday’s Schedule
Stadium (Starting at 10AM)
(1) Gonzalo Escobar, Ecuador v. Miomir Kecmanovic, Serbia
(3) Denis Shapovalov, Canada v. Eduardo Agustin Torre, Argentina
(Q) William Howells, United States v. Mauricio Echazu, Peru
Janis Podzus, Latvia/Martins Podzus, Latvia v. Jose Daniel Bendeck, Colombia/Alejandro Mendoza, Bolivia
(Q) Evgeny Korolev, Russia v. (WC) Sam Riffice, United States
Grandstand (Starting at 10AM)
(4) Dennis Nevolo, United States v. (WC) Gianni Ross, United States
(2) Deiton Baughman, United States v. Junior Alexander Ore, United States
(6) Federico Zeballos, Bolivia v. Daniel Garza, Mexico
(Q) Hady Habib, United States v. (Q) Ty Trombetta, United States
(1) Deiton Baughman, United States/Anderson Reed, United States v. Peter Nagy, Hungary/Denis Shapovalov, Canada
Court 4 (Starting at 10AM)
(7) Felipe Mantilla, Colombia v. (Q) Juan Manuel Benitez Chavarriaga, Colombia
Roberto Quiroz, Colombia v. (Q) Raleigh Smith, United States
(Q) Michael Zhu, United States v. (WC) Pietro Rimondini, United States
(3) Juan Sebastian Gomez, Colombia/Felipe Mantilla, Colombia v. Miomir Kecmanovic, Serbia/Jonas Luetjen, Germany
Ruben Gonzales, Philippines/Dennis Nevolo, 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 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 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
Ivan Lendl Pupils Kypson, Kirkov Fall In Qualifying Finals, But One Gets Lucky
Both of Ivan Lendl’s tennis pupils lost in the final round of the qualifying tournament for the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships at The Boulevard Tennis Club Monday, but one got lucky.
Patrick Kypson and Vasil Kirkov, both coached on by the Vero Beach resident and Tennis Hall of Famer, were both defeated in their final-round matches, Kypson losing to fellow American Williams Howells 6-4, 1-6, 6-1, while Kirkov lost to another American Hady Habib from Houston, Texas 6-2, 7-6 (2). Kirkov, however, was awarded a “lucky loser” position into the main draw when Alejandro Gomez of Colombia withdrew from the singles draw.
Kirkov will be joined in the 32-player main draw by two other teenage American players, Sam Ruffice and Gianni Ross, who have all been training with Lendl at the Windsor Club many times this year.
Rookie pro Michael Zhu from Princeton, N.J. won a marathon three-set struggle to beat Mexican Davis Cup player Tigre Hank 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 in two hours, 42 minutes in the most dramatic final-round qualifying match Monday. Zhu, who played No. 1 in his senior year at the University of Michigan in 2015, out-hit his flashy left-handed opponent from the baseline on Stadium Court. Tigre, from Tijuana, is the No. 1 player from Mexico and frequently trains in Vero Beach with part-time local resident Daniel Garza, also a Mexican Davis Cupper who won the Vero Beach Futures title in 2011.
Other players qualifying for the main draw of the $10,000 USTA Pro Circuit event include former world No. 46 Evgeny Korolev of Russia who defeated Jonathan Chang 6-2, 6-1 and Ty Trombetta of the United States who defeated Jamaican Davis Cup team member Rowland Phillips 7-6 (5), 6-1.
The main draw of play starts at 10 am with Adam Ambrozy, an 18-year-old from St. Petersburg, Fla., facing Marcelo Tomas Barrios Vera of Chile in the first match on the Stadium Court. Ambrozy, who will attend Columbia University in New York City next year, is one of 14 teenagers in the singles and doubles field this year at the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships. The No. 1 seed in the event is Gonzalo Escobar, a member of the Davis Cup team from Ecuador who is ranked No. 346 in the world. Escobar is one of 12 players in the singles or doubles tournament who have played Davis Cup for their country.
Results – Final Round Qualifying
Michael Zhu (USA) def. Tigre Hank (MEX) [1] 7-5, 2-6, 6-4
Eduardo Agustin Torre (ARG) [2] def. Benjamin Hannestad (DEN) [10] 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
William Howells (USA) def. Patrick Kypson (USA) [13] 6-4, 1-6, 6-1
Ty Trombetta (USA) def. Rowland Phillips (JAM) 7-6 (5), 6-1
Hady Habib (USA) def. Vasil Kirkov (USA) 6-2, 7-6(2)
Evgeny Korolev (RUS) def. Jonathan Chang (USA) 6-2, 6-1
Raleigh Smith (USA) [7] def. Javier Naser (CHI) 7-6, 6-2
Juan Manuel Benitz Chavarriaga (COL) [8] def. Michael Lippens (USA) 6-1, 6-2
Main Draw Tuesday’s Schedule of Play
Stadium Starting at 10 am
Adam AMBROZY (USA) vs. Marcelo Tomas BARRIOS VERA (CHI)
Followed by
Vasil KIRKOV (USA) vs. Alejandro MENDOZA (BOL)
Not Before 1 pm
Matias Franco Descotte vs. Juan Sebastien Gomez (COL) (5)
Not Before 3 pm
Miomir KECMANOVIC (SRB) / Jonas LUETJEN (GER) vs. Brian BATTISTONE (USA) / Isaiah STRODE (USA)
Not Before 4:30 pm
Deiton BAUGHMAN (USA) / Anderson REED (USA) vs. Antonio BALAU (BRA) / Igor SCHATTAN (BRA)
Not Before 6 pm
Michael ALFORD (USA) / William FEDERHOFER (USA) Peter NAGY (HUN) / Denis SHAPOVALOV (CAN)
Grandstand Starting at 10 am
Starting at 10 am
Mauricio ECHAZU (PER) / Federico ZEBALLOS (BOL) vs. Ruben GONZALES (PHI) / Dennis NEVOLO (USA)
Not Before 11 am
Peter NAGY (HUN) [8] vs. Jonas LUETJEN (GER)
Not Before 1 pm
Thomas COOK (USA) / Nathan PASHA (USA) vs. Gonzalo ESCOBAR (ECU) / Roberto QUIROZ (ECU)
Not Before 3 pm
Jose Daniel BENDECK (COL) / Alejandro MENDOZA vs. Daniel GARZA (MEX) [2] / Tigre HANK (MEX)
Not Before 4:30
Geronimo ESPIN BUSLEIMAN (ARG) / Eduardo Agustin Gomez (COL) vs. Juan Sebastian GOMEZ (COL) [3] / Felipe Mantilla (COL)
Court 4
Not Before Noon
Martins Podzus (LAT) vs. Jorge Montero (CHI)
Not Before 4 pm
Martins Podzus and Martins Podzus (LAT) vs. Alexander Merino (PER) Michael Zhu (USA)
Monday’s full schedule of play can be seen here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/ustaassets/assets/1/15/schedule520.pdf
The main singles draw can be seen here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/ustaassets/assets/1/15/singles_draw518.pdf
The main doubles draw can be seen here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/ustaassets/assets/1/15/doubles_draw518.pdf
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 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.
Ivan Lendl Pupils March Through Mardy Fish Tennis Qualifying Rounds
Ivan Lendl’s influence is being felt at the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships as two of his students have earned their spots in the final round of the qualifying tournament.
“He’s funny off the court but he’s serious on the court and he’s obviously a genius, so it’s an honor to work with him,” said Patrick Kypson, the 16-year old American from Greenville, N.C., who gutted out a 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 win over fellow American Kurt Thein on Sunday.
“He’s obviously a great player, a very good coach,” said 17-year-old Tampa, Fla., resident Vasil Kirkov, of the Vero Beach-based Hall of Famer Lendl following his 6-2, 7-5 win Sunday over Frederick Saba of the United States.
Both Kirkov and Kypson have been to Vero Beach about a half dozen times since late last year training with Lendl at The Windsor Club as part of Lendl’s new coaching role with the USTA Player Development program. Two other 17-year-old players training with Lendl, Gianni Ross and Sam Riffice, received wild cards into the main draw of the tournament that starts on Monday.
The score of Kypson’s match does not truly display how tight and intense the match was throughout, as both players were battling each other, not only on the court, but in their minds.
“Being a lot older, he thinks he can intimidate me,” stated Kypson about his and Thein’s interactions throughout the match. With a lot of close line calls that required an umpire to settle the dispute, along with loud and spirited celebrations after the majority of the points, both players gave their opponent plenty of distractions to deal with.
“On top of that I was playing pretty bad,” said Kypson, who won the making his win today even more impressive. True champions are said to be able to win matches when they are unable to play their best, and that is something that coach Lendl has been able to instill in Kypson.
“I was competing very well today,” said Kirkov of his match with the No. 5 seed Saba. “It was a good win…I’m pretty happy I played well today and getting confidence from a match like this is very important.”
The wins for Kypson and Kirkov have earned them spots in the final round of qualifying rounds that take place at 11 am Monday. Both players have already played in five USTA Pro Circuit main draws and will be hoping to make their sixth appearance in a main draw here in Vero Beach.
Kypson’s final round of qualifying match will be against fellow young American William Howells, a 17-year old Boca Raton native. The two played during Kypson’s run to the title at the USTA Boy’s 16 and Under National Championships in 2015, with Kypson winning 6-3, 6-2.
“William is a tough player, but I’m looking forward to it,” claimed Kypson, who isn’t letting the result of their prior meeting give him any false confidence.
Kirkov’s match will also be played against another rising junior, 17-year-old Hady Habib from Houston.
“I know he has a big serve and a big forehand…he’s going to play very aggressive and I need to stay very steady like I did today,” said Kirkov of Habib.
Other notable results on Sunday came from Russia’s Evgeny Korolev, who easily defeated the No. 6 seed Jose Daniel Bendeck of Colombia, 6-0, 6-2, and Tigre Hank of Mexico, the No. 1 seed in the qualifying tournament, who defeated Gabriel Carvajal of Ecuador in 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.
Korolev, the former No. 46 player in the world, is making a comeback of sorts to professional tennis after stepping away from the game a year and half ago when his father suddenly passed away. His comeback is looking successful so far and he is hoping to carry his streak of impressive performances into the main draw.
The No. 1 seed in the qualifying tournament, Hank, was down 4-1 in third set and looked like he was on his way out of Vero Beach before he would go on to roll off five games in a row to come back and win.