Kodat marks transition from juniors with first pro crown
Seventeen-year-old Toby Kodat enjoyed a weekend to remember in Turkey after winning his first professional singles title at M15 Antalya.
The American teenager, who finished runner-up in his first professional final in December at M15 Cairo, made no mistake with his second opportunity – defeating Frenchman Maxime Hamou 6-4 6-2 in the clay court final.
The win represents the first big milestone in Kodat’s transition from junior tennis to the professional realm. Kodat was an impressive junior, reaching a high of No. 4 in the junior rankings and finishing runner-up in the boys’ singles event at 2019 Roland Garros. He was also part of the American team that finished runner-up at the 2019 Junior Davis Cup Finals. He is particularly proficient on clay – with 42 of his 79 match-wins at junior level coming on the surface.
Meanwhile, Eric Vanshelboim won his second career singles title at M15 Monastir. The 19-year-old Ukrainian, who was taken to three sets in all five of his matches in Tunisia, defeated home favourite Skander Mansouri 3-6 6-4 6-3 in the title match.
Italian Fabrizio Ornago triumphed at M15 Cairo for the second time in his career to collect his sixth title on the ITF World Tennis Tour – and first since October 2019.
The 28-year-old world No. 421 defeated Jose Fco. Vidal Azorin 7-6(5) 2-6 6-4 in the final, and missed out on a double triumph when he and partner Lorenzo Bocchi fell to Alejo Lorenzo Lingua Lavallen and Carlos Sanchez Jover in the doubles final.
The final event of the week at M15 Manacor did not conclude on Sunday, with the singles and doubles finals set to take place today. Swiss Antonie Bellier faces Frenchman Evan Furness in the singles final, with Bellier also set to feature in the doubles final later. Follow the live stream and live scores here.