SAVANNAH, April 26, 2015
Rain dampened much of Saturday, but that didn’t stop the semi-finals of the St. Joseph’s/Candler Savannah Challenger, with play getting underway just after 4:30pm local time.
On Court 6, James McGee took on 17-year-old wild card Frances Tiafoe, who made it to the final four for the first time. McGee came on to the court with confidence and dominated it very quick, winning 71% of the points, and ultimately winning the set 6-1. In the second set, it was McGee that started making the errors, double faulting four times. Tiafoe was able to convert three break points and took the set 6-1. The world number 163 from Dublin got his groove back though in the third and put an end to the rather bizarre match, winning the final set 6-3 in one hour and 23 minutes. McGee is advancing to his second Challenger final, also his second this season after San Luis Potosi three weeks ago, while Tiafoe is in the lead of the USTA French Open wild Card with 47 points. Bjorn Fratangelo (37 points), Jared Donaldson (33) and Mitchell Krueger (23) are next in the current standings.
James McGee has reached his second ATP Challenger career final (photo: Jacob Stuckey – SJ/C Savannah Challenger)
Meanwhile over on St. Joseph’s/Candler Stadium Court, No. 4 seed Hyeon Chung took on American Bjorn Fratangelo. The first set was extremely close with most games going to deuce. It was Chung that prevailed though, taking the first set 6-2. In the second set, the 18-year-old Korean was able to convert two break points and ultimately won the match 6-2, 6-4 in one hour and 24 minutes. Chung reached his third Challenger final of the season after Launceston as well as claiming the title in Burnie. He will join Nick Kyrgios and Borna Coric as the third teenager within the top-100 on Monday.
McGee and Chung will meet for the first time on the tour since 2012. Back then, the Irish emerged victorious winning at a Futures tournament in Indonesia in straight sets.
Hyeon Chung will reach the top 100 in the ATP rankings on Monday (photo: Jacob Stuckey – SJ/C Savannah Challenger)
