Binghamton, July 23, 2017
US-Americans Adam El Mihdawy, Eric Quigley and Evan Song all won their final round matches of the qualifying at the $75,000 Levene Gouldin & Thompson Tennis Challenger on Sunday. Fourth-seeded Dekel Bar from Israel knocked off wild card Shane Monroe as the fourth player to qualify for the main draw.
After receiving a bye in the first round of the qualifier on Saturday, first-seeded Adam El Mihdawy dominated the court in his match today. The 27-year old went up against Jarryd Chaplin from Australia, winning in straight sets, 6-0, 6-2. Mihdawy, a Binghamton LG&T Tennis Challenger veteran, won five out of nine break points during the match, earning his qualifying bid into the main draw.
Mihdawy will face 20-year old wild card selection Alex Rybakov from the United States in the first round of the challenger tomorrow. Quigley, who was seeded second and also had a bye in the first round of the qualifier, faced sixth-seeded US-American John Lamble in the lone match today to go a full three sets. Lamble got off to a hot start, beating Quigley in the first set, 7-5. The second set went game for game before reaching tiebreaker where Quigley took the frame, winning 7-6 (5). As play advanced to a third set, Lamble was able to win two games but ultimately fell to Quigley, 6-2.
Quigley, who made it to the second qualifying round for singles at last year’s tournament, will face World No. 279 Christian Harrison from the United States in the round of 32 tomorrow.
Third-seeded Song defeated fifth favourite Connor Farren in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2. The 25-year old Song from Henderson, Nevada won 75% of his first serve points, pushing him through to the main draw. Song will face fourth-seeded overall Akira Santillan from Australia, ranked World No. 171 in the opening round of play on Monday.
Bar, the fourth seed in the qualifier, also won his bid to the tournament by scores of 6-2, 6-4 over US-American Shane Monroe. Bar had eight aces in two sets against Monroe, winning four out of seven break points. Bar drew alternate Edward Corrie, the 29-year old from Great Britain, ranked World No. 380 in the first round of the ATP Challenger. Main draw competition will begin Monday, July 24 at 10 a.m local time.
