Princeton and TCU players win USTA Southern Pro Circuit singles

Nidunjianzan, who plays at Princeton, started his drive to victory in the first set breaking Cid Subervi, of Dominican Republic, with a break in the last game. 

Nidunjianzan then fought off three points in the second set’s seventh game to take a 5-2 lead. The Chinese had two match points in the next game but Cid Subervi, who was ranked No. 211 in 2020, found a way to hold. In the final game, Cid Subervi halted Nidunjianzan’s drive to win the third match point. But, Nidunjianzan found success to win the fourth deuce and fourth match point to take the match. Cid Subervi played college tennis at South Florida.

In a post-match interview, Nidunjianzan said, “First round, I almost lost it and saved seven match points. I obviously didn’t have too much pressure (in the final). I knew he had more pressure. So, I went out, played loose and got the win.”

Women's singles final

The women’s final ran just 11 minutes short of three hours. Bennett, a rising sophomore at Auburn, served for the match in the second set at 5-4. But she let the momentum slip away as Lemaitre saved two match points. In the second set tiebreak, Lemaitre took an early lead but still needed a third set point to even the match.

Bennett’s all-court game began to break down in the final set as she won only 46% of her first set points. Lemaitre used her five years of collegiate tennis experience – currently at TCU and previously at Kentucky and Ole Miss – to wear down her younger opponent.

Lemaitre said after the match. “Oh, it was crazy for me. I was down 7-6, 5-3, 15-40 on her serve. It was a great comeback for me. I just fight until the last point. … She’s a great player. She’s like really complicated to play with a big serve.

“I’m grinding all the way through. I’m shaking and super happy.”

Both winners praised the tournament run by USTA Southern and the host facility. USTA Southern’s Milagros Sequera Huss and club owner Eddie Jacques were co-tournament directors.

Doubles champions

In the men’s doubles final, the team of Brazilian Lorenzo Esquici and Argentine Franco Ribero defeated the American brothers Elijah and Isaiah Strode 6-4, 6-3. The South Americans hit four aces compared to one double fault while the Americans did not hit any aces but threw in six double faults.

The women’s double final pitted two American teams: second-seeded American Kolie Allen/Paris Corley against the fourth-seeded Newborn/Mia Yamakita. The title went to Newborn/Yamakita 7-5, 6-3, for their first professional crowns.

Videos

• Brianna Baldi earned a wild card and advanced to the women's singles quarterfinals. Watch the North Carolinan talk about the USTA Southern Playoff Series and playing in the Huntsville event.
• Men's doubles champions Lorenzo Esquici of Brazil (left) and Argintine Franco Ribero express their pleasure at playing at the Athletic Club Alabama, the site of the Pro Circuit tournament in Huntsville.