Martins Podzus

Jonas Luetjen, a 25-year old German who played college tennis at the University of Mississippi, won both the singles and doubles titles at the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships Sunday at The Boulevard Tennis Club.
Luetjen won the first pro singles title of his career defeating 21-year old Latvian Davis Cupper Martins Podzus 7-6(4), 6-3 in front of a crowd of over 300 enthusiastic and appreciative fans. After 45 minutes of rest, he then partnered 16-year old Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic to win the doubles title over the No. 1 seeds Deiton Baughman of Carson, Calif., and Anderson Reed of Daphne, Ala., a 10-point tiebreaker deciding the 6-1, 5-7, {10-8} decision.
“It’s obviously a great feeling…it’s a very special day for me,” said Luetjen, ranked No. 912 in the ATP World Tour singles rankings.
The Schessel, Germany native became only third player in the 21-year history of the Vero Beach event to win the singles and doubles titles in the same year, joining Australian John-Patrick Smith in 2012 and American Doug Flach in 1996.
The singles final started off very tight as the first two games lasted 26 points.
“I got actually really lucky in the first set to stay in it. He started so well,” said Luetjen, who had to fight off five break points in his first service game.
The rest of the set was mostly straightforward from there as only two more games went to deuce, and the set had to be decided by a tiebreak.
Luetjen raced out to a 3-0 lead in the tie-breaker and didn’t look back. He would go up 6-2 before Podzus made a mini-comeback to get the score back to 6-4, but that would not be enough as the German won the next point to take the set.
Podzus, ranked No. 632 in the ATP World Tour rankings, showed some more fight early in the second set as he earned a break to go up 2-1. Luetjen, though, was able to break at love in the next game to get back on serve and everything went his way from that point on. Another break at love in Podzus’ next service game gave Luetjen a 4-2 lead and he would eventually go on to serve out the match at 5-3 for the win.
Luetjen essentially called his shot this week, as he told a German-born Vero Beach resident Henry Doehla after his first-round win that he felt like he could go all the way and win the title.
“I came here and first day I practiced on clay I had a great feeling,” said Luetjen.“I always have a positive mindset.”
That positive mindset earned Luetjen his first professional singles title and will see his amount of ATP ranking points more than double as he earned 18 ranking points for the title and he came into the week with only 17.
“It also gives me a great confident boost,” said Luetjen, who will be playing in another USTA Pro Circuit Futures level tournament in Tampa next week.
“First set, maybe I could beat him, but in the second, no chance. He played so good,” said Podzus, who was looking to extract revenge on Luetjen who beat him in the doubles tournament in Vero Beach, as well as in a Futures level qualifying match back in 2011.
“Unbelievable shots everywhere,” said Podzus of Luetjen’s performance. “I’m very tired now.”
In the post-match presentation ceremony after the singles final, Tom Fish, the co-tournament director and the chairman of the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation, the new organizers of the event, unveiled the Mike Rahaley Cup trophy, named for the event’s founder, who retired from running the event last year. The trophy features all the singles champions at the event since its first year in 1995 and will be soon be fitted with Luetjen’s name.
The doubles final was also an exciting affair decided by a margin of only two points.
“I enjoyed a little sandwich and just carried the momentum,” said Luetjen, of his break between the singles and doubles final.
After an easy first set for the Europeans, the Americans fought back in the second set and won three deciding points in a row late in the set (a sudden-death point played a deuce, which is a feature now in professional doubles matches) to force a deciding 10-point tie-breaker played in lieu of a third set to determine the championship.
In that third set tiebreak, everything went the way of the server in the beginning before Baughman and Reed won a return point to get a mini-break. Kecmanovic and Luetjen quickly answered right back with a mini-break of their own to get back on serve at 5-5, and would later win three points in a row to open up an 8-6 lead. The Americans could not fight their way back from that deficit, as Kecmanovic and Luetjen won the tiebreaker 10-8.
Luetjen was happy with the doubles title, but was happier for his partner Kecmanovic as it was his first professional title, earning him his first ATP doubles points.
“I’m so happy for him to get his first title, he’s so young,” said Luetjen of Kecmanovic, who won the prestigious Orange Bowl junior title late last year. “I’m sure he’ll have many of those through his career.”
Said Kecmanovic, “I played really good. We both played really good in tough points and I’m just happy to get the win today.”
Baughman, the 20-year old American who played in the main draw doubles tournament at the U.S. Open in 2015, gave a lot of praise to Kecmanovic and Luetjen.
“Credit to them today,” he said. “Obviously Jonas was playing well all week. He came up clutch when he needed to and Miomir was playing insane. They made us work and it was a great doubles match.”
Many of the players praised the organization of the event and the facility at The Boulevard Village and Tennis Club as the tournament came to a close.
“This week is very awesome, awesome crowd, very nice tournament,” said Podzus. Added Luetjen, “It’s a very nice facility, I love it here.”

Latvian Davis Cuppper Martins Podzus will face Germany’s Jonas Luetjen in Sunday’s 11 am singles final of the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships at The Boulevard Tennis Club in Vero Beach.
Luetjen, a 25-year-old from Germany, will play in both the singles and doubles finals Sunday after he defeated 17-year-old sensation Denis Shapovalov of Canada 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 in Saturday’s semifinals.
Podzus ended the run of another 17-year-old Vasil Kirkov of Tampa, Fla. 6-2, 6-3 in the second singles semifinal Saturday. Luetjen and Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic will face Deiton Baughman and Anderson Reed of the United States in the doubles final that will follow the 11 a.m. singles final.
Luetjen will be looking for his first career professional singles title, three years after he finished a college tennis career at the University of Mississippi and having traveled around the world to events in Iran, Sri Lanka and all over Europe in pursuit of ATP rankings points.
Against Shapovalov, Luetjen jumped early on the sluggish Shapovalov, who struggled to win tight three-set matches in both the second round and quarterfinals the previous two days. The German won the first set in just 21 minutes, losing only five points in the first four games.
“I didn’t do anything wrong, everything was pretty much going my way,” said Luetjen, ranked No. 921 in the ATP World Tour rankings, of the first set.
The No. 3-seeded Shapovalov began to show more fight at the end of the first set, and jumped to a quick 4-1 lead in the second set. Luetjen was able to apply pressure on the Shapovalov serve throughout the set and had a look at two break points at 4-2 but could not convert them, before breaking through on one at 5-3 to get back on serve late in the set. Unfortunately for Luetjen, Shapovalov broke right back at love to close out the set and even the match and looked to seize the momentum.
“The match started at the second set basically,” said Luetjen. “We were both playing well.”
Shapovalov, who has moved up 678 spots on the ATP computer this year, held the first game of the third set at love before having two break points in the second game, but Luetjen won four points in a row to get the hold.
“I know that if I focus on my serve, I will get a chance eventually,” said Luetjen, who saved all three break points he faced in the third set.
That was the case as after a couple more tight games, Luetjen had five break chances at 2-2, and capitalized on the fifth one to open up a third set lead. The German saved a break point in his next service game and used that momentum throughout the end of the match, as he was able to grab another break at 5-3 for the win,
“I finished off pretty strong,” said Luetjen, who was the last directly accepted player in the 32-player $10,000 “Futures” level U.S. Tennis Association Pro Circuit event.
Podzus, a big-hitting 21-year old from Latvia, ended the incredible run by Kirkov, who lost in Monday’s final round of qualifying and only got into the tournament as a “lucky loser” after Alejandro Gomez of Colombia withdrew from the event. Kirkov, an apprentice of Vero Beach resident Ivan Lendl who has trained often at The Windsor Club as part of Lendl’s role with the USTA’s Player Development program, was simply overcome by the power of Podzus and couldn’t craft his way to win enough big points, like he had done in his previous three main draw matches.
“I just played good, played every ball, watched every ball, didn’t make stupid mistakes,” said Podzus of his strategy against Kirkov. “After every bad point, you need to play a good one, because if you play another bad one then you almost say good bye to the game.”
Podzus has already won three Futures level singles titles – two in Turkey and one in Germany – and will be looking to win his fourth title on Sunday. He will be looking for more than a title against Luetjen, though, as he is looking for a little revenge, as well.
“I played against him six years ago…for the final round of a Futures [qualifying tournament],” he said. “I lost…so I need to make revenge this time.”
The loss for Kirkov ended a breakthrough week for the lanky teenager. His semifinal finish earned him six ATP points which will move him up almost 1,000 spots in the ATP World Tour rankings.
Saturday’s Singles Semifinal Results
Martins Podzus, Latvia d. (LL) Vasil Kirkov, United States 6-2, 6-3
Jonas Luetjen, Germany d. (3) Denis Shapovalov, Canada 6-0, 4-6, 6-3
Sunday’s Schedule
Stadium (Starting at 11AM)
Jonas Luetjen, Germany v. Martins Podzus, Latvia
(1) Deiton Baughman, United States/Anderson Reed, United States v. Miomir Kecmanovic, Serbia/Jonas Luetjen, Germany
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:
1 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