American Mmoh Beats Fratangelo to Qualify for Memphis Open

February 8, 2016 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff

Photo credit: Alex Smith/Memphis Open

 

American Michael Mmoh took down compatriot Bjorn Fratangelo in a three-set thriller that lasted two hours and 54 minutes today at the Memphis Open presented by ServiceMaster. With the win, Mmoh qualifies for his first career ATP main draw event.

In arguably the most exciting match of the final day of qualifying, American Michael Mmoh took down compatriot Bjorn Fratangelo in a three-set thriller that lasted two hours and 54 minutes. With the win, Mmoh qualifies for his first career ATP main draw event.

Entering the match, both players were dead even on serve with neither player threatening to break in the first set until Mmoh found an opening at 4-4.

After dropping the opening set, Fratangelo turned up the intensity, keeping the former world No. 2 junior against the ropes in the majority of their rallies. Mmoh’s defense was effective enough to exchange breaks of serve with Fratangelo, but not enough to keep him from winning the second set, 7-5.

In the third and final set, both players kept fans on the edge of their seats. Frantangelo broke Mmoh early and ran with the momentum to a 5-3 lead. With Frantangelo serving for the match at 5-4, Mmoh kept the pressure on the 2011 Junior Boy’s French Open champion, eventually breaking to even the match at 5-5.  

With both players going on to hold their serve, the match went to a deciding third set tiebreaker. Mmoh raced to a 3-1 lead, but Frantangelo would not bow out quietly. After five match points, Mmoh sealed the deal on his final qualifying round, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(6).

Fellow American Jared Donaldson will have an extended stay in the city after defeating Ireland’s James McGee, 6-0, 7-6(0)

With the win, Donaldson, along with Mmoh, Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul will be the only players aged 19 or younger in the main draw.

Also booking their spot in the Memphis Open main draw, Switzerland’s Henri Laaksonen earned a 6-7(6), 7-6(4), 6-1 win over top seed Radu Albot and in his first Memphis appearance, Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka is through with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 win over Adrian Menendez-Maceiras of Spain.

The ATP World Tour has also confirmed that Kei Nishikori, the three-time defending champion at the Memphis Open and No. 7 in the Emirates ATP rankings, will play his first match Wednesday, February 10 at 7:30 p.m. 

Memphis Open tournament play for Monday will feature promising young Americans Ryan Harrison and Francis Tiafoe facing each other followed by past University of Memphis tennis players David O’Hare and Joe Salisbury facing Marcus Daniell and Artem Sitak.

Qualifying Men's Singles Results

Final Round
[3] Y. Nishioka (JPN) def. [8] A. Menendez-Maceiras (ESP) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
H. Laaksonen (SUI) def. [1] R. Albot (MDA) 6-7 (6), 7-6(4), 6-1
[WC] M. Mmoh (USA) def. [2] B. Fratangelo (USA) 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (6)
[7] J. Donaldson (USA) def. J. McGee (IRL) 6-0, 7-6(0)

To See the Singles Qualifying Draw – CLICK HERE

ORDER OF PLAY – MONDAY, FEBRUARY 08, 2016

STADIUM COURT start 2:00 pm

R. Ram (USA) vs [5] D. Kudla (USA)

[Q] Y. Nishioka (JPN) vs [Q] J. Donaldson (USA)

 Not Before 7:30 pm

R. Harrison (USA) vs [WC] F. Tiafoe (USA)

M. Daniell (NZL) / A. Sitak (NZL) vs [WC] D. O'hare (IRL) / J. Salisbury (GBR)

GRANDSTAND COURT start 2:00 pm

L. Vanni (ITA) vs M. Kukushkin (KAZ)

I. Marchenko (UKR) vs [6] S. Groth (AUS)


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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