Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.

Photo by Rustam Tahir

Third-seed Tim Smyczek won the men’s singles at the Tiburon Challenger on Sunday, 16, 61, 76(7) in a closely-fought match lasting one hour and 54 minutes.

“We could not have asked for a better finals day today,” said Tournament Director Brendan Curry. “Denis Kudla got off to a great start, winning the first set 6-1. Tim Smyczek kept his composure and won the second set 6-1 in what turned out to be a see-saw style match. Kudla aced off to a 5-2 lead in the third, but once again Tim rallied to even the score at 5-5 and then 6-6.”

Record crowds were on hand for an exciting singles match, in which Kudla made it to match point three times in the third-set tiebreaker. Kudla made it to match point three times but was denied once by a let cord, next by a huge forehand winner and then by his ball hitting square into the tape one his side. Smyczek finally won the match on his second opportunity. “We could not have asked for a more exciting singles finale,” said Curry.

The doubles final also delivered fine play, with Frederik Nielsen and Johan Barnstorm beating Carsten Ball and Matt Reid, 7-6, 6-1. “We has a lefty on each team and some huge serving,” Curry reported. “Nielsen’s return was clutch and combined with the incredible net play of John Brunstrom, they were not be be denied a well-deserved victory. “All in all, the 2015 Wells Fargo Tiburon Challenger culminated in a finals day we could not have scripted,” he said.

“We have seen some real, young talent present itself out on the courts during the entire tournament,” he said. Among the highlights were 20-year-old Mackenzie McDonald, a wild card, making it through to the semifinals in singles and doubles; 19-year-old Quentin Halys from France; and 18-year-old Frances Tiafoe also putting on a great show. In addition, “We saw the Cal Berkley wild-card doubles team of Goransson/Lakat record the win of their career so far in beating Denis Kudla and Dustin Brown in the first-round doubles,” said Curry.

The entire tournament saw record crowds, world-class tennis and amazing athletes. “Thank you to all the pros, who put on such an incredible performance all week long,” said Curry, expressing appreciation for their effort and sportsmanship. He also thanked the cadre of volunteers for helping to make the tournament a success.

Men’s Singles – Final
[3] Tim Smyczek (USA) def. [1] Denis Kudla (USA), 16, 61 76(7)

Men’s Doubles – Semifinal
[1] Johan Brunstrom (SWE)/Frederik Nielsen (DEN) vs. [4] Carsten Ball (AUS)/Matt Reid (AUS), 76(2), 61

Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.