Brengle, Kwiatkowski win Oracle Challenger Series titles

It was a super Sunday for Team USA in Southern California, as Madison Brengle and Thai-Son Kwiatkowski both won the biggest titles of their professional careers at the Oracle Challenger Series Newport Beach event. Hayley Carter also got in on the action by claiming the women's doubles title on Saturday.

Brengle (pictured above, left), 29, topped Stefanie Voegele of Switzerland, 6-1, 3-6, 6-2, while Kwiatkowski (above, right), 24, powered past Daniel Elahi Galan of Colombia, 6-4, 6-1. Carter teamed with Brazil's Luisa Stefani for her doubles win, scoring a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Marie Benoit and Jessika Ponchet.

For Brengle, who has 15 ITF Pro Circuit titles to her name, it was a first trophy at the Challenger level. The American No. 5 seed's championship run included a three-set win over top-seeded Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals, 1-6, 7-6, 6-2. The victory moves her up to No. 79 in the WTA Rankings.

“I felt like I was able to move the ball around,” Brengle said after the match, as quoted on the tournament's official website. “I tried to pick on what I could. When I had the chance to stay aggressive, I did. 

“It’s exciting! I’m really happy! I get a trophy now!”

Brengle has competed in the singles main draw in each of the last 22 Grand Slams, dating back to the 2014 US Open. She reached a career high of No. 35 in 2015, when she advanced to the fourth round in Melbourne and the third round at the US Open.

Kwiatkowski's victory improved his professional record in finals to 5-0 and his ATP ranking to a career high of No. 181. After winning four Futures titles from 2016-18, he claimed his first Challenger title in Newport Beach—though he almost skipped the event altogether.

“I almost didn’t come to this tournament,” Kwiatkowski revealed during the trophy ceremony. “I had a really bad week of training last week, and my girlfriend dumped me two weeks ago, so to win this is amazing.”

The American credited his strong serving for his title run, and also admitted to feeling some nerves in what was the biggest match of his career to date.

"I was incredibly nervous," he said. "It was my first ATP Challenger final. I just tried to not think about what was on the line and play every point. It was super difficult... but I hung in there really well.”

A 2017 graduate of the University of Virginia, Kwiatkowski won three NCAA team titles with the Cavaliers before closing out his college career by capturing the NCAA individual singles title. After the victory, he credited the Oracle Challenger Series with helping create a supportive setting for American players.

“It was really tough for me to transition from college to pros. To go from having a team in an environment where it’s not about yourself, for me I found it a bit tough. But Oracle helps bring that team environment back—they’re really helping the Americans, and we’re all embracing that. All the events they put on are really well run, and it’s amazing to be here.”

Women's doubles champion Carter is also a former college star, with the University of North Carolina. The winningest player in ACC women's tennis history, she also served as an assistant coach with Oklahoma State in the 2017-18 season, and as a volunteer assistant with NCAA semifinalists UNC in 2018-19. 

With the trophy, Carter and Stefani move up to eighth in the WTA Race to Shenzhen—good enough to qualify for the year-end WTA Finals, should they maintain their Top-8 spot.

The Newport Beach event was the first of four Oracle Challenger Series tournaments in 2019. Next up is Indian Wells, starting on March 2, followed by New Haven in September and Houston in November.

Stateside action continues this week on the USTA Pro Circuit, with men's events in Dallas (ATP Challenger) and Palm Coast, Fla. (M25), and a women's tournament in Midland, Mich. (W100).

(Photo credit: Oracle Challenger Series)