Jonathan Fried Pro Challenger

No. 6 Virginia Hosts No. 24 Georgia on Friday The Cavaliers and Bulldogs play at 5 p.m. on Friday on the indoor courts at the Boar's Head Sports Club

🎅🏻 Hoo Hoo Hoo 🎅🏻 Happy Holidays!!!! 🔶🔷

‘Inside UVA’: A Conversation With Champion Tennis Coach Andres Pedroso Hear how a surprising exchange with legendary sports agent Donald Dell led Pedroso into coaching.

Zhukayev Wins Jonathan Fried Challenger at Boar's Head Resort (Recap)

Beibit Zhukayev had used a blistering serve to his advantage all week long in running his opponents off the court — and Sunday afternoon was no different.

The 23-year-old from Kazakhstan smashed 11 aces with no double faults en route to a 6-3, 6-4 win over American Aidan Mayo in the finals of the Jonathan Fried Pro Challenger at the Boar’s Head Sports Club.

After dropping the first set of his first-round match to former University of Virginia star Thai-Son Kwiatkowski, Zhukayev won his last 10 sets of the tournament and never had his serve broken.

Against Mayo, Zhukayev connected on 65% of his first serves, winning 89% of those points.

On the flip side, he converted on all three of his break-point chances.

The victory marked Zhukayev’s first Challenger title.

Congrats to our 2023 champ! Boar's Head Resort Har-Tru Special Olympics Virginia

Mayo, Zhukayev to Square Off in Finals at Boar's Head Resort on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Sometimes tournament seeding doesn’t mean a whole lot – and that has been exactly the case at this week’s Jonathan Fried Challenger at the Boar’s Head Sports Club in Charlottesville.

All of the seeded players in this week’s $80,000 USTA pro-circuit event, including No. 1 seed Michael Mmoh, had early exits.

It has all led to a surprising final.

On Sunday, Aidan Mayo, a 20-year-old qualifier from Sacramento, will take on Beibit Zhukayev, a 23-year-old from Kazakhstan, in a match that starts at 1 p.m.

On Saturday, Mayo was a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 winner over fellow qualifier Ethan Quinn, smashing 13 aces in the process.

Back in September, the 376th-ranked Mayo had lost to Quinn at a Challenger event in Charleston, but he has now won two straight against the 2023 NCAA champion.

Mayo will be facing a an extremely hot opponent in the 247th-ranked Zhukayev. After dropping the first set of his first-round match to former University of Virginia star Thai-Son Kwiatkowski, the 6-foot-5-inch Zhukayev has won his last eight sets, including a 6-4, 7-6(4) victory over American Patrick Kypson on Saturday.

In Saturday’s doubles final, Kwiatkowski -- the 2017 NCAA singles champion -- and partner Denis Kudla lost to John-Patrick Smith and Sam Verbeek, 3-6, 6-3, 10-5.

Tickets for Sunday’s final can be purchased for $23 on the Boar’s Head website or at the door. Proceeds benefit the Special Olympics.

RESULTS - NOVEMBER 04, 2023 Boar's Head Resort

Men's
Singles -
Semifinals
[Q] A. Mayo (USA) d [Q] E. Quinn (USA) 36 64 63
B. Zhukayev (KAZ) d P. Kypson (USA) 64 76(4)

Men's
Doubles -
Final
[1] [Alt] J. Smith (AUS) / S. Verbeek (NED) d D. Kudla (USA) / T. Kwiatkowski (USA) 36 63 10-5

Thanks to The Daily Progress! Boar's Head Resort

Kwiatkowski and Kudla advances to doubles final at Jonathan Fried Challenger Former Virginia star Thai-Son Kwiatkowski teamed with fellow American Denis Kudla to beat Tennys Sandgren and Aidan McHugh, 6-1, 6-4.

Today’s schedule at the Boar's Head Resort!

Kwiatkowski Advances to Doubles Final at Boar's Head Resort!

When he starred at the University of Virginia, Thai-Son Kwiatkowski won the NCAA singles title.

This week, as a professional at the Jonathan Fried Challenger, Kwiatkowski has excelled in doubles.

On Friday afternoon, the Charlotte, N.C. native teamed with fellow American Denis Kudla to beat Tennys Sandgren and Aidan McHugh, 6-1, 6-4.

Kwiatkowski and Kudla will face John-Patrick Smith and Sam Verbeek in Saturday’s final that gets underway at noon at the Boar’s Head Sports Club.

In other action from the $80,000 USTA pro-circuit event Friday, former UVa player Alexander Ritschard’s impressive run in the tournament came to an end. The Swiss native, who had upset No. 1 seed Michael Mmoh on Thursday, lost to Aidan Mayo, 6-3, 6-4.

On Saturday, Mayo will face qualifier Ethan Quinn in one semifinal, while Patrick Kypson will square off with Beibit Zhukayev in the other.

Quinn, a Californian who won the 2023 NCAA singles title at the University of Georgia, knocked off third-seeded Benoit Paire, 7-6, 6-2. Zhukayev, from Kazakhstan, beat Nino Serdarusic, 6-3, 6-4.

The singles matches begin following the conclusion of the doubles final.

Tickets for matches can be purchased on the Boar’s Head website or at the door for $23. Proceeds benefit the Special Olympics.

Sunday’s singles final is scheduled for 1 p.m.

The DMV Dream Team at is headed to the Charlottesville Doubles final! and move past McHugh and Sandgren 6-1, 6-4!

Thanks to The Daily Progress for the great coverage! Boar's Head Resort

Former Virginia star Alex Ritschard knocks off top seed at Jonathan Fried Challenger “It was a very big win today.”

Today’s schedule at the Boar's Head Resort! Special Olympics Virginia

Ritschard Rolls No. 1 Seeded Mmoh (Photo courtesy of TennisAtlantic.com)

Alex Ritschard had been returning the powerful serve of Michael Mmoh fairly well all match long but saved his best return for last.

In a second-set tiebreaker on Thursday afternoon at the Boar’s Head Sports Club, the former University of Virginia standout whistled a forehand back at Mmoh just as hard as Mmoh’s first serve had come at him -- perhaps harder.

The shot caught Mmoh off guard. The 101st-ranked American was forced to short hop a return that sailed long.

Ritschard got the mini break he needed, and the Swiss native went on to serve out a 6-3, 7-6(5) victory over the No. 1 seed in a second-round match of the Jonathan Fried Challenger.

“It was a very big win today,” said Ritschard, who entered the tournament ranked 242nd. “He is very tough to play. He doesn’t go away at all. I was just trying to use my forehand as much as I could and try and get some easy balls off my serve, and really attack his second serves.

“But what I think won it for me today was just staying mentally tough and not going away – keep being that annoying guy that doesn’t give up.”

Ritschard had been unable to capitalize on a match point late in the second set. A Mmoh second serve was close to being out, and Mmoh went on to win a lengthy rally.

But Ritschard, as he had throughout the match, stayed aggressive from both the baseline and when he came to net.

Of course, having a little home cooking helped too. From the get-go, Ritschard had the Charlottesville crowd, which included UVa tennis head coach Andres Pedroso, fully behind him.

“It’s great being back here,” said Ritschard, who won both an NCAA and indoor team title during his time at UVa.

In other action from the $80,000 USTA pro-circuit event, current UVa star Inaki Montes De La Torre lost to Beibit Zhukayev of Kazakhstan, 6-4, 7-6(8); Brandon Holt, the son of legend Tracy Austin, beat Cannon Kingsley, 6-4, 6-4; and former UVA star Thai-Son Kwiatkowski and partner Denis Kudla defeated Evgeny Karlovskiy and Nino Serdarusic, 6-2, 6-2 to move into the doubles semifinals.

Tickets for Friday’s quarterfinals, Saturday’s semifinals and Sunday’s finals can be purchased on the Boar’s Head website or at the door. Proceeds benefit the Special Olympics.

For the daily schedule, results, player interviews and more, visit the Jonathan Fried Pro Challenger page.

Photo: Former Virginia Men's Tennis player Alexander Ritschard, center, celebrates his victory over No. 1-seeded Michael Mmoh with UVa assistant coach Treat Huey, left, and head coach, Andres Pedroso, right. (Photo courtesy of TennisAtlantic.com)

We apologize for the confusion today regarding tickets (which can be purchased on the Boar's Head Resort website or at the door). To clarify: tickets for matches today and tomorrow cost $13. Tickets for matches on Saturday and Sunday cost $23. Proceeds benefit Special Olympics Virginia.

An exciting day of tennis featuring several Virginia Men's Tennis players begins at noon at the Boar's Head Resort! Come join us — final day of FREE admission. Tickets $20 starting Friday through Sunday. Special Olympics Virginia Har-Tru

Wahoos Take Center Stage on Thursday

If you’re a fan of UVa tennis, you won’t want to be anywhere else other than the Boar’s Head Sports Club on Thursday.

In the first match of the day at the Jonathan Fried Challenger beginning at noon, former UVa player Alexander Ritschard will take on No. 1 seed Michael Mmoh in a second-round tilt.

The match will be followed by one between current UVa star Inaki Montes De La Torre and Beibit Zhukayev of Kazakhstan.

Later in the day, former UVA star Thai-Son Kwiatkowski – who won the 2017 NCAA singles championship – will team with fellow American Denis Kudla in doubles against Croatians Evgeny Karlovskiy and Nono Serdarusic.

Ritschard will then team with Mitchell Krueger against Martin Damm and Alex Rybakov.

In non-UVa action, No. 5 seed Emilio Nava takes on Ethan Quinn, while wild card entry Reilly Opelka -- the 6-foot-11-inch serving behemoth who beat Tennys Sandgren on Tuesday in his first match in 15 months -- takes on qualifier Aidan Mayo.

Admission to the $80,000 USTA pro-circuit event is free through Thursday. Tickets for the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals on Friday, Saturday and Sunday can be purchased for $20 on the Boar’s Head website or at the door. Proceeds benefit the Special Olympics.

For the daily schedule, results, player interviews and more, visit the Jonathan Fried Pro Challenger page.

Virginia Men's Tennis Boar's Head Resort Special Olympics Virginia Har-Tru

ICYMI: Yesterday’s action here at the Boar's Head Resort! Virginia Men's Tennis

Ritschard and Montes De La Torre Advance

During a changeover in the first set of his match against Aidan McHugh on Tuesday morning at the Boar’s Head Sports Club, former UVa player Alexander Ritschard sat on a bench in front of several sponsorship signs. There were ones for the University of Virginia Licensing & Ventures Group, Jefferson Coin and Ivy Nursery -- just to name a few.

In the distance, hanging from both the ceiling and wall, were ACC and national championship banners the Swiss-born Ritschard helped win during his days as a ‘Hoo.

While the level of competition has shifted from college to pro, Ritschard -- who played for the Cavaliers from 2014-2017, said it’s like time has hardly passed.

“I’ve seen some changes, definitely some new buildings and the Snyder [Tennis Center] area has changed a lot, but all in all pretty much the same – how I left her,” said Ritschard, with a laugh.

Still possessing a blistering forehand, Ritschard must seem pretty familiar to UVa fans too. He got off to a slow start, but was able to stave off McHugh, 6-4, 6-4, in first-round action of the Jonathan Fried Challenger.

“I would say that my mental attitude is probably the thing that saved me today,” said Ritschard, set to take on the Michael Mmoh-Steve Johnson winner. “Playing at home is always nice, but you’re always a little bit nervous because you want to do well. I just stayed focused on staying tough in my head and staying patient and waiting for my shots to show up.

“Toward the end of the first [set], and then into the second, they started to show up – especially my serve.”

No doubt about that.

In the second game of the second set, Ritschard smashed four aces -- very different from his first service game of the match when he double-faulted three times.

McHugh was hot with his serve early, but grew frustrated, eventually getting hit with a code violation for bad language.

In June, the 29-year-old Ritschard climbed to No. 160 in the world; he’s now ranked 242.

“I’ve had some ups and downs for sure,” he said, “but I did a good job last year of kind of getting back on track. I have a really great coach I’m working with and my family supports me – what more can I ask … I’m just trying to play better every day.”

In the second match of the day, current UVa player Inaki Montes De La Torre defeated Aussie Adam Walton, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(4). He’ll now face Beibit Zhukayev of Kazakhstan, who defeated former UVa star Thai-Son Kwiatkowski in a third-set tiebreaker on Monday.

Admission to the tournament is free through Thursday. Tickets for the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals on Friday, Saturday and Sunday can be purchased for $20 on the Boar’s Head website or at the door. Proceeds benefit the Special Olympics.

Some exciting doubles action and Brandon Holt, the son of the legendary Tracy Austin, highlights today’s schedule at the Boar's Head Resort! Har-Tru Special Olympics Virginia United States Tennis Association - USTA (Official)

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RESULTS - OCTOBER 31, 2023
Men's
Singles -
First Round
[1] M. Mmoh (USA) d S. Johnson (USA) 76(6) 75
C. Kingsley (USA) d [2] A. Michelsen (USA) 75 63
[5] E. Nava (USA) d B. Tomic (AUS) 26 76(1) 75
[Q] I. Montes-De La Torre (ESP) d [6] A. Walton (AUS) 62 36 76(4)
[7] D. Kudla (USA) d [WC] C. Rodesch (LUX) 76(5) 61
[WC] R. Opelka (USA) d [8] T. Sandgren (USA) 64 75
A. Ritschard (SUI) d A. McHugh (GBR) 64 64
[Q] A. Mayo (USA) d [Q] A. Ayeni (USA) 75 62
[Alt] L. Gerch (GER) d [Q] S. Kozlov (USA) 62 57 76(5)
[Q] E. Quinn (USA) d M. Krueger (USA) 36 76(2) 64

Thanks to the The Daily Progress for the coverage! Boar's Head Resort Jefferson Coin University of Virginia

Former UVa star Alexander Ritschard wins first round match at Jonathan Fried Challenger During a changeover in the first set of his match against Aidan McHugh on Tuesday morning at the Boar’s Head Sports Club, former UVa player Alexander Ritschard sat on a

Former University of Virginia tennis star Alexander Ritschard kicks off an exciting slate of matches at the Boar's Head Resort today beginning at 10 am! Har-Tru Special Olympics Virginia University of Virginia Licensing & Ventures Group

RESULTS - OCTOBER 30, 2023
Men's
Singles -
First Round
M. Damm (USA) d [4] Z. Svajda (USA) 26 63 76(3)
B. Zhukayev (KAZ) d [WC] T. Kwiatkowski (USA) 46 76(3) 76(3)
N. Serdarusic (CRO) d E. Spizzirri (USA) 61 26 64
P. Kypson (USA) d G. Debru (FRA) 64 75
B. Holt (USA) d E. Gomez (ECU) 62 62

Mens
Qualifying Singles -
Second Round
Qualifying - [1] A. Mayo (USA) d [11] C. Harrison (USA) 26 75 62
Qualifying - [7] D. King (BAR) d [2] S. Fanselow (GER) 63 62
Qualifying - [10] I. Montes-De La Torre (ESP) d [3] C. Langmo (USA) 75 62
Qualifying - A. Ayeni (USA) d [4] E. Karlovskiy 76(2) 64
Qualifying - [5] S. Kozlov (USA) d [Alt] P. Rodenas (ESP) 63 61
Qualifying - [6] E. Quinn (USA) d [Alt] D. Dietrich (SUI) 76(1) 63