Tennis Acumen

Roger versus Rafa, Challenger Edition..... 2019 Knoxville Final

 

It was not Federer versus Nadal, but, for the fans in Knoxville, it could have been.

The 2019 Knoxville Challenger final matched up players with very different styles, both with similarities to the classic rivals.

Michael Mmoh: Physical. A warrior with a big forehand.

Christopher O'Connell. Cerebral. A dancer with a classic backhand.

The 6-4, 6-4 score line doesn't come close to telling the story. In the first set, the quality of play, both offense and defense, was so high that serving did not create an advantage. Mmoh broke O'Connell on all three of his chances. O'Connell broke MMoh on two of his five chances. Total: five breaks of service, five holds, and the first set went to Mmoh.

In the second set, Mmoh converted just one of three break points. He had to save all six break points against him to win the second set and the title.

There's nothing like watching two players, evenly matched, both playing their best tennis and reflecting such different styles. It wasn't Rafa vs. Roger but at times it felt that way.

Knoxville did the game of tennis proud, as did our finalists. A great tournament.

LINK: MICHAEL MMOH INTERVIEW

 

 

 

“Who was that out there, anyway?”

That’s what opponents are saying as they leave the court, casualties of young American Aleks Kovacevic at the 2019 Challenger tournament in Knoxville, Tennessee.

With his confidence bolstered by the previous night's win over Bradley Klahn, Aleks Kovacevic faces Sekou Bangoura in the third round here in Knoxville.

 

Logo (c) knoxchallenger.com

The two have some things in common. Same size, same shape. They both stand at 6 feet tall, and weigh around 170. They’re both right-handed. In other ways, they are very different. Aleks was born in New York City, Sekou in Bradenton, Florida. Aleks learned tennis from his parents in Central Park. Sekou grew up watching his father teach at Bollettieri Academy. Bangoura turned pro in 2011. Kovacevic is still playing at the University of Illinois.

It is Thursday, and the round of 16, played out on center court at the University of Tennessee. Let the games begin. At 1-1, Kovacevic holds at love, hitting well from forehand and backhand. At 1-2,  a screaming backhand by Kovacevic puts Bangoura at a deficit. Applying pressure at the net, he recovers from 15-40, and it’s 2-2 . Kovacevic counters with a love hold, his first of many. When Bangoura earns a service point, he requests that the winning ball come back to him. It seems to improve his game. At 3-3, Kovacevic holds. Then, it happens.

New balls, please.

These new balls seem to affect Bangoura' s game, and he struggles serving at 4-5. He saves four break points but gives up the fifth. It’s over. First set, Kovacevic, 6-4.

Second set. Now, these two have seen each other's game. There are more points against serve, and more risk for the server. It’s 1-1, at deuce, Kovacevic serving. Bangoura comes to the net and hits a series of 5 perfect volleys. Kovacevic sends them all back. The sixth one is a winner. Bangoura converts a break point and leads, 2-1 . This is the first sign that Kovacevic might be vulnerable.

With multiple courts in play, spectators have a lot of entertainment from their elevated bleachers here in Knoxville. Down here on the floor, I look over my shoulder to see a young Australian taking apart a veteran Canadian. Sydney takes down Toronto. There's nothing like live entertainment.

Still in the second set, with Bangoura up, 4-2. It's time for.....

New balls, please.

I wonder what Bangoura is thinking. However, these new balls give Kovacevic trouble. He misses four of his first five serves, but then holds steady. They change ends. Bangoura serves. New balls, new racket.

But wait.... there's something going on with these balls. Kovacevic holds one to his ear. He shakes it. It rattles. The chair umpire does the same and retires that ball from play. The remaining balls work well for Kovacevic, who holds. He’s still down, 5-4. For Bangoura, the new racket does the trick, and he wins the set, 6-4.

Photo credit: University of Illinois

Both players had to play three sets to win in the second round. So here we are, true to form. Let's have a third set. It's a rewind to the beginning of this match. Kovacevic holds at love. Bangoura holds at love. Rinse. Repeat. Now, it's 3-2, Kovacevic in the lead. Once again, the umpire calls out:

"New balls, please."

Bangoura is not fazed. He holds at love. Kovacevic immediately returns the favor, and he is up 4-3.

Steady service games rule the day. Midway in the final set and we're dead even. Since the second set began, each player has won exactly 46 points. Now, Bangoura serves at 4-5. He must hold, or it's over. Early in the game, Bangoura retrieves a ball deep in the corner and puts up a weak backhand lob. Kovacevic comes to the net and puts it away down the middle. Somehow, Bangoura flings up a racket and sends a rainbow that lands back on the baseline. Kovacevic runs over the top of the ball and hits a ' tweener' that just clears the net. Bangoura stands waiting at the net and angles a beautiful volley for a winner. That's all he had left. Bangoura commits three unforced errors in a row, and Kovacevic has his third breakthrough match in three rounds of Challenger tennis. No doubt, he'll always remember Knoxville.

After the match, Tennis Acumen sat with Aleks Kovacevic. On the record, Aleks said he is surprised, but not really shocked by his third win in a row. Perhaps, at the end of the tournament, he will have time to celebrate. For now, he is already focused on the next round, just 15 minutes after another breakthrough win.

His experience at the NCAA national tournaments and a deep run there taught him that “You have to stay hungry to go deep”. That was his best tournament performance ever, and it came because he was focused. Right now, he's happy, but all he wants to do is “act like someone who has been here before.”

In his first match on Monday, going into the first set, playing at Challenger level itself was a mental block. The "boost in confidence from that win was huge". Going into the second round, Aleks was thinking about “How I was here, playing someone ranked #105 in the world.” He took a lot away from that victory. Today, in the third round, Aleks felt as if he belonged.

He certainly does. We look forward to watching his bright future unfold.

Photos and article: Karl Corbett, unless otherwise credited, (c) Tennis Acumen 2019

Knoxville Challenger Hosts a Thriller: Kovacevic Breaks Through

Knoxville Tennessee. The 2019 Challenger tennis tournament. Aleksander Kovacevich is coming off his very first challenger win on Monday. He's ranked # 688 in the world. Looming in his path is Bradley Klahn, age 29, winner of eight Challenger titles, and ranked at # 105. Back in July, in the Winnetka, Illinois Challenger, Kovacevich bounced out in the first round of qualifiers. Klahn won the title in both singles and doubles. These two players are from different coasts in other ways, too. Kovacevich is from New York City. Brad Klahn is from California.

Klahn was steady to start. With a hold at love, it is 1-0. Kovacevich bangs two aces and holds at love, for 1-1. Klahn returns the favor with an ace and holds at love himself. At 14 points into the match, Kovacevich is up 30-love and no one has won a point on return. Klahn decides to take a service point, but it’s just one, and we go to 2-2.

 

The crowd noise is deafening, but that's from the doubles match on the next court featuring University of Tennessee alumni Hunter Reese. This tournament is held at the Goodfriend Tennis Center on the UT campus.

Klahn holds for a 3-2 lead, but now Kovacevich has earned his first return point. Parity. And on it goes, Klahn sending backhand slices to the Kovacevich forehand, earning two break points. With Kovacevich serving at 3-4 in a fierce rally, he tries a drop shot that lands out wide and goes down 3-5. Klahn’s superior experience beats Kovacevich’s firepower. Klahn serves out the set to 6-3.

Kovacevich is mostly cool and steady as he starts the second set, but he shows his frustration when he misses a first serve or loses a point. He serves to take a 1-0 lead. Later in the match, at crucial moments, he shows frustration too, but shakes it off within seconds.

Klahn serves, with a nervous look that started midway through the first set. His nerves hold out and he ties it at one all. Kovacevich has not lost his nerve, either. At 2-2, Kovacevic holds at love again, and he is holding his own against the winner of eight Challenger titles.

The stats are incredible. Midway in the second set, Kovacevich has won 19 of 20 first serve points. Klahn has won 20 of 22. What else can we do? A second set breaker. Klahn has the edge: age and experience under fire. That takes him to a 3-0 lead, and gets him to a 7-7 score, where he falters. Kovacevich takes the tiebreak 9-7. All even, one set piece.

Now, the tide has turned. Kovacevich breaks early in the set. Serving at 4-3, he fails to convert a game point, then has to save a breakpoint. But he powers through to go ahead 5-3 and eventually win, 6-4.

After the match, we talked at length about the experience. He had several thoughts to share:

“I have never handled that kind of serve. I have never seen anything like it.” He has seen it now, and handled it.

“I had to give it everything. I could not wait for things to happen.” This was a whole new level, and he stepped up to meet it.

“I want to be able to beat anybody, not just the # 105 player in the world.” Keep working. Stay confident.

With his steady nerves, he goes on to the third round with a wealth of new experience. He faces veteran Sekou Bangoura in the third round.

 

Photos and article: Karl Corbett, (c) Tennis Acumen 2019

Knoxville Challenger Photo Gallery - Tennis Images from Tennessee

KARL CORBETT in KNOXVILLE

 

Tennis Acumen continues its coverage from the Knoxville Challenger with photos from the early rounds

 

Lloyd Glasspool of Great Britain chases down a ball from Brandon Nakashima of the USA. Glasspool moves on to the third round, after a first round bye.  Photo: Karl Corbett

 

Blaz Kavcic of Slovakia goes airborne during his first round defeat at the hands of Israel’s Edan Leshem.  Photo: Karl Corbett

 

Young American Aleksandar Kovacevic seems to doubt a call that goes the way of Kaichi Uchida of Japan. Kovacevic went on to win.  Photo: Karl Corbett

 

American Michael Mmoh beats Darian King of Barbados in his second round match, but not everything went his way.  Photo: Karl Corbett

 

16-year-old Zachary Svajda takes the court in just his second Challenger event.  Photo: Karl Corbett

 

JJ Wolf, a Cincinnati product, wins his first round match with incredible defense as part of the game. Look at the G-forces.  Photo: Karl Corbett

 

Michael Mmoh - Getting to Know the former Knoxville Champion

KARL CORBETT in KNOXVILLE

Michael Mmoh

Last September, following a ten match winning streak, which included Challenger titles in Columbus and Tiburon in back to back weeks, Michael Mmoh cracked the ATP Top 100, checking in at world number 96.

Mmoh would win six of the twelve ATP matches he played in 2018 and he reached the third round of the Miami Masters 1000 and the Quarterfinals of the ATP 250 in Brisbane.  In both events, Mmoh successfully won all of his qualifying matches in straight sets.  The run in Miami included a win over then world number 15 Roberto Bautista Agut.

This year, the 21 year-old American arrives in Knoxville with just three ATP matches under his belt due to being sidelined by injury from January through May.  Mmoh reached the third round in Knoxville last year but was not able to take the court for his match due to injury.  Six weeks ago in Cary, NC, Mmoh reached the Final, losing in three sets to veteran Italian Andreas Seppi.

Michael Mmoh is hoping that this week he will be able to replicate the success he had in Knoxville in 2016, when he won the title and dropped just one set in the process.

 

Following his opening round win on Monday in Knoxville, Tennis Acumen had the opportunity to speak in more detail with Michael Mmoh:

 

TA: Karl Corbett from Tennis Acumen, here at the  2019 Knoxville Challenger tournament. It's Monday, November 4th and we are having a chat with  Michael Mmoh. Is it Michael, or do people call you Mike?  

MM: People just call me Mmoh. Michael is probably a more formal name, for me. That's OK, though, rather than Mike.

TA:  OK, good. Let me ask: What inspired you to get into tennis, in the beginning?  

MM: So, my dad was actually a top 100 player. He played for Nigeria. And then,  obviously, having him as a mentor, it kind of made sense for me to get into tennis. So, that's part of the reason I got into tennis, at first. 

TA: That's the kind of thing people love to know.  When did you first pick up a racket? 

MM: I picked up a racket when I was three. Yeah, I was super young. Obviously, it was because of my dad. 

TA: Well, you've got some of that DNA. You know, the raw potential, right? 

MM: That’s right. 

Michael Mmoh in action in Knoxville  Photo: Karl Corbett

 

TA: So, coming up, which players did you admire? Who did you want to play like? 

MM: Andy Roddick was always one of my idols growing up. I loved his charisma. I love the way he went about everything. I also loved his game and his competitiveness. So definitely, he was my favorite player growing up. If Andy  lost in a tournament I, wouldn't even watch the tournament anymore. So, he was my inspiration.  

TA: Love that. Now, you've had a chance to do some traveling, what are some of your favorite places to travel, the cities that you love? 

MM: I went to Japan for a junior tennis tournament when I was 16. I was in Osaka. I loved the culture there. Basically, I love everything about Japan. I fell in the love with the food, with how nice and respectful everybody is. I love my experience there, for sure. And then, my Mom is actually half Australian, so going down to Melbourne  pretty cool. I have a lot of family in Australia. So, I always love going to Melbourne as well. Definitely, those two spots have a special place in my heart, that's for sure. 

TA:  Yeah, absolutely. I can see why. Michael, If you were not playing tennis, what would you be doing? 

MM: That's a good question. Maybe another sport. I definitely think that, if I had grown up in the States, I would have at least tried football or basketball. Growing up in Saudi Arabia, there's not much of that. It's just about all  soccer, and I wasn't as into soccer as I was the game of tennis. But, definitely, if I grew up in the States, I might have been into football, Otherwise, I have no idea, in terms of the regular world. Outside of sports, I don't know what I would do.   - {NOTE: Michael Mmoh was born in Saudi Arabia}

TA: I understand that. If you love it, if that's the thing, it can be the only thing. You're right. What about life after tennis? Do you think about that at all? 

MM: Oh, yes,  definitely, I have thought about that, several times. Right now, I'm trying to stay focused on this career. But I think it'd be pretty cool to be an agent, to be honest. I always remember, when I was young, the  thought of doing  that job kind of stuck to me. It resonated with me, for some reason. And, obviously, it's similar to what I do today. I feel like I'm already in the field, I have some experience. That could be a potential thing in the future. 

TA:  And broadcasting. Have you ever done a guest spot or anything? 

MM: Live TV? Nothing like that, yet. I've done interviews after matches, sure, talking about my tennis. Being a commentator seems like another matter. Something I've never done, but It would be a cool experience. I'd definitely be all for that.  

 

TA:   I'll put the word out, Michael. (laughs). Tell me about your brothers and sisters. 

MM: Yes, of course. I have two half-sisters and one half-brother. I have to tell you, one of my sisters just had her first newborn, just yesterday. So, I'm now an uncle. 

TA: That melts your heart. That is beautiful. Any of them playing tennis? I mean, your brother and sisters, not the newborn.

MM: (laughs) My older sister used to play a bit of tennis and she was actually really good. She could have had scholarships to any Division One school, but she really didn't like tennis. She didn't have passion in the sport. But she was super talented. She could have been somebody, if she  wanted to go for it. What she's doing right now is what she's truly happy doing, so...... 

TA: I'm happy for her. Yeah. That's the thing.  So, what's more important to you: winning, or avoiding a loss? Where  are you on that spectrum?  

MM: That’s a tough one. I would definitely say, right now, I'm in the development stage. So, the most important thing right now is building my game, to continue to improve every single day. I just want to see that my game is getting better and better. That's my main objective. That's my main focus. But, going along with the development, losing, sometimes, can inhibit that. It can restrict your  development. So, I would definitely say, losing is worse, then... Avoiding the loss is more important than winning.  

TA: You're very articulate my friend. Thank you. Appreciate it. We'll see you in the next round. 

MM:  Definitely. All right. Thank you.