CHAMPAIGN, November 16, 2018
As the only seeded player left in singles play at the JSM Challenger of Champaign-Urbana, the tournament’s No. 4 Reilly Opelka defeated France’s Tak Khunn Wang 6-2, 6-2. The 21-year-old US-American sent down 10 aces, winning 92 per cent to advance in just 50 minutes.
Opelka will next take on compatriot Tommy Paul. The 21-year-old Greenville resident edged out No. 7 seed Christopher Eubanks from the United States 6-2, 7-6(3) in one hour and six minutes.
That’s a maiden #ATPChallenger semi-final for Ryan Shane @NoShameShane5 in Champaign.
First Top 100 win on Wednesday (d. Granollers) and first QF win on Thursday for the former @UVAMensTennis standout. pic.twitter.com/N6YjzjMUhk
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) 15. November 2018
No. 8 seed John Patrick-Smith of Austrialia fell to qualifier Ryan Shane 7-5, 6-1. The World No. 577 saved all five break points he faced, capitalizing on three of his own chances to prevail after one hour and seven minutes. In his first semi-final on the ATP Challenger Tour, Shane will meet Blaz Rola of Slovenia, who knocked off US-American Sekou Bangoura 7-6(2), 6-3. The encounter lasted one hour and 36 minutes.
On Friday, semi-finals will commence at 12 p.m. local time on court one, while the tournament concludes on Saturday, Nov. 17 with the singles and doubles finals.
