TALLAHASSEE, April 24, 2021
The singles semi-finals at the Tallahassee Tennis Challenger are set with Jenson Brooksby, Denis Kudla, Bjorn Fratangelo and Facundo Mena all advancing to the final four at the Forestmeadows Tennis Center.
In Friday’s first singles match on Stadium Court, #NextGenATP US-American Brooksby took on his compatriot and No. 8 seed Michael Mmoh. Mmoh was quickly able to take the first set 6-1, but the 20-year-old California native stormed back, taking the second set 6-1 and jumping to a 4-1 lead in the third. Mmoh was then forced to retire due to a right shoulder injury.
4⃣0⃣ shots!
Jenson Brooksby survives a marathon rally in Tallahassee, outlasting Michael Mmoh. The 20-year-old refuses to lose once again, moving his #ATPChallenger record to 17-2 in 2021.
🔜 @TallyChallenger semis pic.twitter.com/lJf3eBIXZf
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) April 23, 2021
Next up, it was Kudla and Romanian teenager Filip Cristian Jianu looking for their spot in the semi-finals. The first set was a test of grit, as both players stayed with one another. The No. 2 seed from the United States ultimately took the opener 7-6(8) but Jianu mounted a comeback and took the second 6-3. In the decisive set, Kudla was able to notch the win with a final score of 7-6(8), 3-6, 7-5 after two hours and 40 minutes.
Meanwhile over on Court 1, Mena made quick work of Mikael Torpegaard, defeating the Dane 6-1, 7-6(3) in one hour and 21 minutes. With the win, the 28-year-old Argentine is through to his first Challenger semi-final since August 2019.
Finally, it was another all-US-American battle when Frantangelo defeated Thai-Son Kwiatkowski 7-5, 6-4 after one hour and 35 minutes.
In doubles, No. 1 seeds Orlando Luz and Rafael Matos of Brazil edged out Facundo Mena and Brazilian Joao Menezes while US-American wild card entries Sekou Bangoura and Donald Young defeated their compatriots Nathan Pasha and Max Schnur.
Semi-final action gets underway on Saturday, April 24 at 10:00 a.m. local time with both singles matches being
played at the same time. Later in the day the doubles final will take place.
Your 2021 #TallyChallenger quarterfinals 👇
🇺🇸 Brooksby vs Mmoh 🇺🇸
🇩🇰 Torpegaard vs Mena 🇦🇷
🇺🇸 Fratangelo vs Kwiatkowski 🇺🇸
🇷🇴 Jianu vs Kudla 🇺🇸— Tally Challenger (@TallyChallenger) April 22, 2021
Tallahassee Tennis Challenger – Friday, April 23 – RESULTS
Men’s Singles – Quarterfinals
[2] D. Kudla (USA) d [Q] F. Jianu (ROU) 76(8) 36 75
J. Brooksby (USA) d [8] M. Mmoh (USA) 16 61 41 Retired
F. Mena (ARG) d M. Torpegaard (DEN) 61 76(3)
B. Fratangelo (USA) d T. Kwiatkowski (USA) 75 64
Men’s Doubles – Semifinals
[1] O. Luz (BRA) / R. Matos (BRA) d F. Mena (ARG) / J. Menezes (BRA) 63 63
[WC] S. Bangoura (USA) / D. Young (USA) d N. Pasha (USA) / M. Schnur (USA) 63 26 14-12
Tallahassee Tennis Challenger – Saturday, April 24 – SCHEDULE
STADIUM COURT start 10:00 am
B. Fratangelo (USA) vs [2] D. Kudla (USA)
Not Before 11:00 am
[1] O. Luz (BRA) / R. Matos (BRA) vs [WC] S. Bangoura (USA) / D. Young (USA)
COURT 1 start 10:00 am
J. Brooksby (USA) vs F. Mena (ARG)
