KNOXVILLE, November 11, 2019
Michael Mmoh has claimed his first title of the season by lifting the trophy of the 2019 Knoxville Challenger, held at the Goodfriend Indoor Tennis Center of the University of Tennessee. The unseeded US-American defeated Christopher O’Connell from Australia, the No. 8 seed of the $54,160 indoor hard-court event, 6-4, 6-4 in Sunday’s singles final.
Mmoh advanced to the championship match with wins over Roberto Cid Subervi from the Dominican Republic, No. 12 seeded Darian King of Barbados, US-Americans Roy Smith and Aleksander Kovacevic, as well as Liam Broady from Great Britain. The 21-year-old Florida resident converted four of his six break point chances to prevail in the final after one hour and 32 minutes.
Your 2019 @KnoxChallenger champion… @MichaelMmoh!
The 🇺🇸 earns his first title in his comeback from a shoulder injury, dropping just one set in six matches to lift the 🏆. pic.twitter.com/IpItHKQ8G5
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) November 11, 2019
“My intent going into this match was to be aggressive and impose my will. I found out that he wasn’t passing as well, and I won a lot of points when I came to the net. I just knew the percentages were on my side,” Mmoh told broadcaster Mike Cation after closing the match out on a serve-and-volley.
By lifting his second Knoxville Challenger trophy following his maiden triumph in 2016, Mmoh, who reached a career high at World No. 96 a year ago, pocketed in Tennessee $7,200 in prize money as well as 80 ATP Ranking points and rises 56 spots to No. 238.
Mmoh, who was sidelined for four months earlier this year, will be back on court this week playing the Oracle Challenger Series in Houston. “I’ve played 30 matches this year and everyone else has played more than 70. I feel relatively fresh,” the Florida resident said.
On Saturday, Bradley Klahn from the United States and Dutchman Sem Verbeek took the doubles title. The pair beat the all-US-American combination of Nathan Pasha and Max Schnur 6-2, 6-4. The final lasted 62 minutes.
