Svajda leads crop of five players winning first ITF singles titles

Zachary Svajda, Peter Fajta, John McNally, Michel Vernier and Tomas Farjat all won their first professional titles on the ITF World Tennis Tour over the weekend.

American Svajda, in particular, might be the one to keep a close eye on of the group, winning his maiden professional singles title at M25 Austin in a year that has already seen him compete on the sport’s biggest stage.

Though still just 18-year-old, Svajda has already enjoyed a taste of tennis at a much higher level. He made his first two Grand Slam appearances as a wildcard at the US Open – first in 2019 when, while aged just 16, he was the youngest man to compete at the event since Donald Young in 2005, and again in early September.  

He hugely impressed against two Italians in New York two months ago, defeating Marco Cecchinato in the first round before pushing the now-world No. 10 Jannik Sinner to four sets in the second round.

Svajda’s win came in a 6-4 4-6 6-4 triumph over fellow American Eduardo Nava, while fellow first-time winners Fajta, McNally, Vernier and Farjat collected their titles at M15 Sharm El Sheikh, M25 Columbus, M15 Cundinamarca and M15 Cochabamba, respectively.

American Raymond Sarmiento also enjoyed a milestone triumph, with the 29-year-old former Top 30 junior winning his second ITF singles title, five years after his first, at M15 East Lansing.

Poland’s Daniel Michalski, 21, won his fourth ITF title – and second of the year at M15 Antalya, while there was also a fourth career title for former junior world No. 5 Filip Cristian Jianu.

Czech David Poljak, Australian Moerani Bouzige, Frenchman Valentin Vacherot and Swiss Damien Wenger complete the list of weekend title winners.

The men’s action continues on the ITF World Tennis Tour this week with a further 10 tournaments taking place. Follow all the latest here.