SIOUX FALLS, October 26, 2024 (Press Release)
The semi-finals at the MarketBeat Open presented by USTA Northern on Saturday feature in-state college rivals Murphy Cassone of Arizona State against wild card Colton Smith of the University of Arizona and Mark Lajal of Estonia against Croatian qualifier Borna Gojo.
In the first match at noon on Saturday, the doubles championship is between American top seeds Ryan Seggerman and Patrik Trhac and Canadian No. 3 seeds Liam Draxl and Cleeve Harper.
The $82,000 ATP Challenger Tour event, which is the first time a professional tennis tournament in South Dakota has been held as the Huether Family Match Pointe plays host on the Sanford Sports Complex.
Cassone, 22, ranked No. 363, upset top seed Christopher Eubanks 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-5, to reach his second straight semi-final. Last week he qualified in Calgary and captured his first title to climb from No. 599 to No. 363. He will now face his in-state college rival Smith.
In Friday’s other matches, 21-year-old Smith saved 12 of 15 break points and advanced to his first career ATP Challenger semi-final with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory over Ozan Baris, a 20-year-old who plays on the Michigan State Univ. team.
Lajal defated No. 6 seed Patrick Kypson 7-6(3), 6-3, to reach his third Challenger semi-final of the season. He will next face Gojo, who rallied from a set down for the second straight match to beat No. 8 seed Brandon Holt 4-6, 7-6(1), 6-2. Gojo missed seven months this year with a back injury and he’s appearing in his first Challenger semi-final since Tunis in May 2023.
Both of Saturday’s semi-finals will be first-time meetings as Cassone takes on Smith and Lajal and Gojo square off. Three of the four players (except Cassone) are trying to win their first ATP Challenger Tour title of the season.
For tickets and for more information, go to marketbeatopen.com.
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