FAIRFIELD, October 13, 2024 (Press Release)
Top-ranked Learner Tien from the United States and Bernard Tomic of Australia will advance to the Sunday finals of the Taub/Kennedy-Grossman Solano Challenger men’s professional tennis tournament after winning their semifinal matches on Saturday.
The showdown pits an 18-year-old up-and-comer seeded No. 1 in the tournament against a 31-year old veteran, seeded No. 7.
World No. 148 Tien defeated fellow American Brandon Holt, ranked World No. 206, 6-0, 5-7, 6-4 and Tomic defeated fellow Australian Tristan Schoolkate 6-3, 6-3.
Tien in a hurry ⌛️
The 18-year-old takes the opener against Holt 6-0 in just 20 minutes!#ATPChallenger | @usta pic.twitter.com/U9l5RI1rfm
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) October 12, 2024
Tien said his match against Holt felt good from the get-go and now he is focused on the finals.
“I see the finish line,” he said after Saturday’s match. “So whatever I have, I’ll put to good use tomorrow but overall I’m feeling pretty good.” He added that he is “happy to get through and looking forward to” the finals.
World No. 233 Tomic has been as high as No. 17 in the world (2016) and has won four career titles and has been to the fourth round of the Australian Open three times.
Saturday’s action began with the doubles tournament finals. Americans Ryan Seggerman and Patrik Trhac split the first two sets against Gabi Adrian Boitan of Romania and Bruno Kuzuhara from the United States 6-2, 3-6 but came back to win 10-5 in the third set tiebreaker.
Seggerman and Kuzuhara both hail from San Diego and each are ranked in the top 100 of doubles players in world. They now hold eight challenger titles, including six this season. Their size (both are more than 6-feet tall) give them exceptional court coverage.
Seggerman was pleased with their performance and had nothing but praise for the tournament and the crowds who have turned out all week to watch the action.
“It was a lot of fun this whole week,” he said. “It’s nice to play in California … to be in our home state and there have just been great crowds out here in Fairfield this whole week. We loved our time here and I’m glad we got the win.”
Sunday’s final match begins at 1 p.m. local time following a wheelchair exhibition at noon.
