KNOXVILLE, November 13, 2016
With Peter Polansky and Michael Mmoh, two unseeded players will compete in Sunday’s final of the $50,000 Knoxville Challenger, held at the Goodfriend Indoor Tennis Center on the University of Tennessee campus.
The 20-year-old Canadian upset the tournament’s number three and highest remaining seed left in the singles draw, Jared Donaldson, 6-2, 6-4. Polansky won 73 per cent of his first service points and converted four of his eight break point opportunities to advance in one hour and 13 minutes. The world No. 148 from Thornhill eyes his second ATP Challenger title of the season, following his triumph in Gatineau in August.
Mmoh emerged victorious from the all-US-American-affair with eighth favourite Stefan Kozlov, winning 6-0, 6-3. In the battle between the two 18-year-olds, Mmoh capitalized on six of his eight break point chances to finish the encounter after 61 minutes. The teenager has yet to claim a Challenger title but lifted the trophy at the $25,000 ITF Pro Circuit event in Bakersfield in March. Polansky and Mmoh will meet for the first time.
After the singles final, Polansky will be back in action, teaming up with fellow Canadian Adil Shamasdin to compete in the doubles title match against the all-Belgian-combination of Ruben Bemelmans and Joris De Loore.