Wake Forest Athletics
Deacs Take Part in Wake Forest Futures Event
6/20/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Tournament Information
By Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeMTennis)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Multiple players with Wake Forest ties competed in the Wake Forest Futures event, a $25,000 ITF tournament at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex that welcomed numerous professionals from all over the world to compete, last week.
Four current or former Demon Deacons were wild cards in the main draw of the singles tournament. David Hopkins, who wrapped up his collegiate career in 2013, and redshirt junior Maksim Kan both fell in the first round, while recently graduated senior Jon Ho and 2016 freshman and ACC Tournament MVP Dennis Uspensky reached the second round.
In the round of 32, Ho outlasted Alabama sophomore Korey Lovett, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-1, while Uspensky overcame a one-set deficit to defeat Danny Manlow, formerly of UAB, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3. Ho was eliminated by American Alex Kuznetsov, currently No. 388 in the ATP rankings, in the round of 16, while Uspensky fell to No. 356-ranked Peter Polansky of Canada. The score of each match was 6-3, 6-3.
Sekou Bangoura, who owns a No. 271 ATP ranking, went on to win the singles title.
In doubles, Uspensky teamed up with Georgia All-American Austin Smith to reach the championship match of the 16-team draw. The duo defeated Hopkins and Kan in a tiebreaker in the first round before getting past Ho and Notre Dame doubles All-American Alex Lawson, 6-3 7-5, in the quarterfinal.
The tandem punched their ticket to the final by downing Bangoura and Brandon Anandan, 6-3, 1-6, 1-0 (3) before falling to Jared Hiltzik and Thai-Son Kwiatkowski. Bangoura is No. 190 in the world in doubles, while Anandan is No. 865.
