COLUMBUS, September 22, 2016

Local player Mikael Torpegaard headlined Wednesday’s second round action at the $50,000 Columbus Challenger, held at the Varsity Indoor Tennis Center of the Ohio State University. The 22-year-old from Denmark knocked out fourth seed Peter Polansky in two hours and 32 minutes.

Torpegaard set the tone for the opening set by breaking Polansky in the first game. He broke him again, taking a 5-2 lead and was serving for the set when he lost his service. After Polansky held serve, Torpegaard closed the set by holding on love to win 6-4.

In the second, Polansky went up 3-0 early after grabbing an early break and fended off a break point to remain in front 4-1. After Torpegaard staved off a couple of breaks points at 4-1, he responded with a break to get back on serve. The set remained on serve and headed to a tie-break, where Polansky won five of the first six points. He would go on to claim the breaker 7-2 and force a deciding third set.

The third set was on serve until Torpegaard picked up his fourth break of the match to pull ahead 4-2. A strong service game, including his 14th ace of the match, put the Danish wild card one game away from the win at 5-2. Polansky then held and got back into the set with another break at 5-4. The ensuing game was a good one. Three deuce points, a game point for Polanasky and three match points later, Torpegaard would pull out the 6-4 win to advance into the quarterfinals.

Torpegaard won his first main draw ATP Challenger match prevailing on Tuesday over US-American Nicolas Meister. He spoke about his experience afterwards:

Torpegaard’s probably biggest match in his career took place in Odense last year, when he faced Rafael Nadal in the opening rubber of the Davis Cup tie with Denmark against Spain.

The world number 645 captured his maiden title on the ITF Pro Circuit in Finland this season and will next take on either Frank Dancevic or US-American qualifier Gonzales Austin.

Defending Champion Falls, Top Seeds Advances

Second Ohio State Buckeye and the tournament’s number seven Blaz Rola lost to Tennys Sandgren 6-7, 3-6. The 25-year-old US-American sent down 11 aces, winning 93 per cent of his first service points. Sandgren saved the only break point he faced, converting one of his own to advance in one hour and 41 minutes. The world number 263 from Gallatin will next take on qualifier Roberto Quiroz from Ecuador.

Defending champion and second favourite Dennis Novikov fell in the opening round on Monday. The 22-year-old US-American lost to compatriot Evan King 4-6, 7-6, 6-7 in two hours and 22 minutes.

Top seed Benjamin Becker from Germany beat Eric Quigley 7-5, 6-4 in the opening round and will take on Australian Sam Groth on Thursday to battle out a place in the quarterfinals.