SAVANNAH, May 3, 2019
Third round action at the St. Joseph’s/Candler (SJ/C) Savannah Challenger took over The Landings Club on Thursday with the quarterfinals now set.
In the featured evening match, 18-year-old Sebastian Korda took to the court against Sumit Nagal of India. The US-American teenager was looking to end a successful two weeks for Nagal, after he reached the quarterfinals in Tallahassee. Nagal quickly took the first set 6-3 and raced ahead in the second set. Korda was able to find his game and get the set back on track to force a tiebreak. It was Nagal that would come out on top, closing out the match with a final score of 6-3, 7-6(0) to set-up a quarterfinal clash against Corentin Moutet.
Earlier in the day, the Frenchmen and No. 3 seed dispatched Thai-Son Kwiatkowski with a convincing 6-4, 6-2 win. Moutet is fresh off a semi-final showing at the Tallahassee Tennis Challenger last week and making his debut on the green clay of the USTA Pro Circuit this spring.
Top seed Sandgren falls, Lorenzi survives scare
In a surprising result, No. 15 seed Federico Coria ousted 2017 champion and top seed Tennys Sandgren from the United States with a 6-2, 7-6(5) win. The 27-year-old Argentine capitalized on five of his eight braek point chances to secure victory in one hour and 33 minutes.
Upset complete! Federico Coria defeats No. 1 seed Tennys Sandgren 6-2, 7-6(5) to book a spot in the QF’s! 🇦🇷💪🎾@fedeecoria | #SavChallenger pic.twitter.com/liejnmJf0Z
— Savannah Challenger (@Sav_Challenger) 2. Mai 2019
No. 2 seed Paolo Lorenzi was also on the brink of crashing out, but the 37-year-old Italian survived with a 6-4, 2-6, 7-5 win against Roberto Cid Suvervi from the Dominican Republic. Lorenzi finished the encounter after two hours and 41 minutes.
Paul to make Roland Garros main draw debut
US-Americans Tommy Paul and Christopher Eubanks also kept their hopes of a home soil title alive by scoring third round wins on Thursday. With Sandgren’s loss, Paul has clinched the USTA’s Roland Garros Wild Card Challenge and will make his main draw debut at the French Open later this month. The 2015 junior champion will be looking for his first main draw win at a Grand Slam.
Play gets underway on Friday at 11:00 a.m. with Frenchmen Alexandre Muller taking on No. 15 seed Federico Coria. At 5:30 p.m. in the featured evening match, No. 6 seed Christopher Eubanks battles it out against No. 2 seed Paolo Lorenzi. Both will be looking for their first ATP Challenger semi-final of the year.
Thursday’s Results
Singles – Third round
Sumit Nagal (IND) d. Sebastian Korda (USA) 6-3, 7-6(0)
(3) Corentin Moutet (FRA) d. (14) Thai-Son Kwiatkowski (USA) 6-4, 6-2
(2) Paolo Lorenzi (ITA) d. (16) Roberto Cid Subervi (DOM) 6-4, 2-6, 7-5
(5) Tommy Paul (USA) d. Alejandro Gonzalez (COL) 4-6, 7-6(2), 7-5
(15) Federico Coria (ARG) d. (1) Tennys Sandgren (USA) 6-2, 7-6(5)
Alexandre Muller (FRA) d. Ulises Blanch (USA) 2-6, 6-3, 6-1
Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) d. Collin Altamirano (USA) 7-6(3), ret.
(6) Christopher Eubanks (USA) d. Marcelo Tomas Barrios Vera (CHI) 6-2, 6-3
Doubles – Quarterfinals
Maunel Guinard and Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) d. Collin Altamirano and Thai-Son Kwiatkowski (USA) walkover
(2) Roberto Maytin (VEN) and Fernando Romboli (BRA) d. Hunter Johnson and Yates Johnson (USA) 6-3, 6-3
(3) Alex Lawson (USA) and Ruan Roelofse (RSA) d. JC Aragone (USA) and Treat Huey (PHI) 3-6, 6-4, 10-7
Doubles – First round
Emilio Gomez (ECU) and Jackson Withrow (USA) d. Johannes Haerteis and Benjamin Hassan (GER) 7-6(8), 6-4
