SARASOTA, April 23, 2017

Tennys Sandgren and Frances Tiafoe will compete in Sunday’s all-US-American-title match of the $100,000 Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open, held on green clay at the United Tennis Club in Bradenton.

Sandgren defeated Vincent Millot of France 6-4, 6-1 in Saturday’s semi-final at James T. Driscoll Stadium Centre Court. The 25-year-old from Tennessee sent down seven aces, saved both break points he faced and capitalized on four of his own to advance in one hour and 17 minutes.

ATP NextGen star Tiafoe fought past Austrian veteran Jürgen Melzer and former World No. 8,winning 6-4, 6-7, 7-6. The 19-year-old Orlando resident won 74 per cent of his first service points and converted five of his 13 break point opportunities to prevail after two hours and 51 minutes.

“Jürgen is going to be back in the top 100 and playing really good tennis. It was really high quality I thought,” Tiafoe said after reaching his eighth final on the ATP Challenger Tour.

The third seed leads 3-0 over Sandgren in head-to-head records in as many meetings between the two. Their last mathch took place in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Cary Challenger. Tiafoe emerged victorious in three sets.

Sex Sounds Interrupts Opening Round Encounter

At the start of the week, Tiafoe’s first round match against Mitchell Krueger was interrupted by an amorous couple in a neighbouring apartment building.

T-shirts have now gone on sale at the ATP Challenger event with the quote, “It can’t be that good”, which refers to the sounds that distracted the players, prompting Tiafoe to call out the words.