Rubin And Tiafoe Take Battle For Stockton Challenger Singles Final

Frances Tiafoe (photo: Stockton Challenger)

STOCKTON, October 9, 2016

The finals are decided and slated for Sunday afternoon action to close out the inaugural $100,000 Stockton ATP Challenger at the Eve Zimmerman Tennis Center.

Noah Rubin was the first to reserve his spot in the final as he defeated Michael Mmoh 6-2, 6-3. The 20-year-old from New York sent down four aces, winning 80 per cent of his first service points to secure victory in 65 minutes. Rubin, who lost in the first round of the main draw event last week in Tiburon, is having one of his best turnouts since returning from his ankle injury.

Facing Rubin in the finals will be Frances Tiafoe who took the rematch between him and the NCAA champion, Mackenzie McDonald with a final score of 7-6(4), 6-3. The encounter lasted one hour and 29 minutes. Tiafoe lost to McDonald in the quarterfinals of the Tiburon Challenger and Tiafoe made sure he would not lose to McDonald back to back.

“I think winning this tournament would put me in the top 100 and I really wanted that,” Tiafoe stated. The doubles final will consist of the Aussie duo of Matt Reid and John-Patrick Smith along with Brian Baker of the United States and Sam Groth of Australia. Both the singles and doubles finals will be held on Sunday morning.