Charlottesville, Virginia–Typical autumn weather returned to Central Virginia today after an unseasonably warm week here, but the indoor matches are certainly heating up. Three of yesterday’s quarterfinals matches went the full three sets in four highly competitive matches. That said, the odds makers have made two players big favorites today at the Jonathan Fried Men’s Pro Tennis Challenger.
First up was Learner Tien, who gave up the first set to Mark Lajal and was under pressure in the first game of the second set. He built on that hold of serve to dominate the rest of the match, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. Tien has won three Challenger titles since July and is a -275 favorite today, according to Draft Kings.
His opponent is James Trotter of Japan, who’s resided in the US since moving to Ohio to attend Ohio State University six years ago. An NCAA Doubles national champion, Trotter is trying to improve his singles ranking, or at least maintain it, in order to be granted a berth in Australian Open singles qualifying. He won his first Challenger trophy in Tyler, Texas this year and he held off a furious comeback bid from American Colton Smith yesterday , 7-6(4), 2-6, 7-6(4).
The other semifinal features favorite Nishesh Basavareddy, who picked up his first Challenger title in Tiburon recently. Basavareddy booked his ticket to the semis with a wild match against UVA alum Chris Rodesch, with the crowd cheering on the Cavalier at the Boar’s Head Resort, the home of the UVA Tennis program. The home court advantage worked all week for Rodesch, but Basavareddy played slightly better and won in his first three set match of the week, 6-4, 6-7(6), 7-6(5).
His opponent is Alexis Galarneau. Despite being a +190 underdog in today’s match against Basavareddy, he breezed past slight favorite Ethan Quinn in workmanlike fashion yesterday, 6-3, 6-2 and may have a little more left in the gas tank today than the young American. His sole Challenger title was in Granby last year.
One thing is certain: Tournament Director Ron Manila will crown a first time Charlottesville singles champion on Sunday.
–S. Fogleman
Tennis Atlantic 
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