Tennis: Young Americans enjoy banner day at Mardy Fish pro tournament

Posted by Admin April 24, 2024 Tennis

Treasure Coast Newspapers

VERO BEACH — American tennis teen Kaylan Bigun has more worldly matters on his mind than winning his first professional tournament this week at the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation $15,000 ITF-USTA Pro Circuit Event.

Bigun, 17, proudly sports a Jewish star necklace to represent his religion and Israel. He also closely follows the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the birthplace of his father and coach Dimitry. Despite playing with a heavy heart, Bigun shocked Sekou Bangoura, a 32-year-old veteran of tennis’ lower circuits, 6-0, 6-1 on a sun-splashed Wednesday afternoon at the Vero Beach Tennis & Fitness Club at Timber Ridge to advance to the second round.

“We have family there and I was there just before the war started,’’ said Bigun, a lanky lefty with a big serve and powerful forehand. “It’s heartbreaking. My Dad moved to Los Angeles when he was a teen but has a group chat with his friends every day, some of whom are in the army. It’s kind of nerve-wracking.”

Second-seeded Garrett Johns, 23, an all-American player for Duke, who won three $25,000 ITF tournaments last year, and fifth-seed William Grant of Boca Raton, a standout for University of Florida, both advanced in straight sets. However, top-seeded, 505^th-ranked Christian Langmo, 27, was sent home to Boca Raton, as the former University of Miami player, fell to Bulgarian Dian Nedev, 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-4.

Bigun showed no nerves in dispatching Bangoura, who has won eight singles ITF titles, including this tournament in 2022. Bangoura was ranked as high as 2013 in 2016 but has plummeted to 1063. The lopsided loss for the 17-year pro was his worst defeat since a 6-0, 6-0 defeat to Florian Reynet in a 2012 ITF F30.

More: Local teaching pros chasing ATP points and a dream at Mardy Fish $15K tournament

“It all equals out on the court. I was just looking to get on the court and play the ball,’’ said Bigun, who will play for UCLA in the Fall. “My goal was to try to control the court with my forehand. I felt I was connecting well and had a good rhythm. I’m really confident in my game right now. I’m executing well and putting some good work in on the practice court. I’m happy to see it translate.”

Bigun was a quarterfinalist at Junior Wimbledon last year; a semifinalist at the prestigious Junior Orange Bowl last year and a quarterfinalist at this year’s Junior Australian Open. He’s got his eye on the winner’s circle this week.

“Obviously, the Junior Slams are marked on my calendar,’’ said Bigun, ranked 1023, who lost in the first round last year. “Honestly, it’s to get better every match and do well in these pro tournaments.”

Mario Rincon, a USTA National coach, works with Bigun at the USTA National Campus in Orlando when the young man trains in Florida. He’s excited for his student’s progress as well as several other young Americans in the 32-player draw.

“Kaylan has worked very hard on the court to improve his game and has made a really big jump in the last six months,’’ Rincon said. “He needs to win one of these tournaments. I think he’s capable of as some of the other young Americans we have here. It’s a matter of believing, working very hard, and working together.”

Rincon was referring to players such as Rudy Quan, 18, of Thousand Oaks, Calif., a wild-card entrant who also notched an upset with a 6-0, 7 -6 (5) over the sixth-seeded Nathan Ponwith of Scottsdale, Ariz, where he played college tennis for ASU.

Quan, who will join his friend at UCLA, actually defeated Bigun last month in a three-hour semifinal at an ITF J-300 junior tournament in Indian Wells — which he eventually won — that runs during the combined ATP-WTA Masters 1000 event in March.

“It was tennis paradise,’’ smiled Quan, a speedy 5-foot-9 backboard.

Quan served for the match twice at 5-4 and 6-5 in the second set but needed a tiebreaker to edge Ponwith, a 26-year-old ranked 744 who won two $25,000 ITF tournaments last year in Calabasas, Calif., and Wesley Chapel.

Quan has practiced with American pros at the USTA Carson training center such as top-ranked American Taylor Fritz (13^th) and 51^st-ranked Marcos Giron.

“Taylor is intense but as long as you’re hitting and trying to get better, he will respect you and is a nice guy,’’ Quan said. “I learned to swing aggressively no matter what.’’

California dreaming for American teens continued for Mitchell Lee of Oakland, who notched his first ATP ranking point in doubles and singles in his first pro tournament with a 6-2, retirement victory over fourth seed Jaimee Floyd Angele of France (illness).

“A lot of people don’t get their first pro points in their first pro tournament … so I’m happy to take advantage of it,” said Lee, who earned a wild card in singles by winning the recent qualifying tournament at Sea Oaks Beach & Tennis Club. “I got the early break and kept it. I didn’t notice anything was wrong with him until 5-2 when he started coughing.”

Lee, 18, will attend Harvard in the Fall. So, if tennis doesn’t work out, Lee hopes to be picking winners instead of hitting them on Wall Street someday.

“My biggest strength is mental toughness and probably my backhand,’’ said the 6-foot Lee.

In an all-California matchup between junior rivals, wild card Matthew Segura, 23, a Los Angeles native living in Orlando, and a 2021 quarterfinalist here, cruised 6-4, 6-0 over Alex Jones, 25, of Marina Del Rey. Jones’ younger brother Miles, 23, fared better in a 6-2, 7-6 (3) victory over former Texas A&M standout Noah Schacter, the seventh seed.

Local duo fall

Local teaching pros Christian Docter and James van Deinse may have failed in their attempt to earn their first ATP ranking points after losing in the first round Tuesday night, but they consider it just a speed bump rather than a mountain.

“It was an amazing experience,’’ said 27-year-old Wisconsin native Docter, after losing 6-1, 6-3 to third-seeded duo Miguel Cabrera of Cuba and Ivan Marrrero of Spain. “It’s what every tennis player dreams of, turning pro playing on this stage. The next step is getting more matches under our belt and winning some [ATP] points.”

Docter teaches at nearby Sea Oaks Beach & Tennis Club. Unfortunately for Deinse, 33, whose family owns the Timber Ridge club, the homecourt advantage never materialized.

“We go in hoping for a win and not just to put up good results,’’ Deinse said. “Until we do, it’s a more experience and hopefully, there’s more to come for both of us.”