In a grueling match, Somdev Devvarman won the 2015 United States Tennis Association (USTA) Nielsen Pro Tennis Championship. Seventh seeded Devvarman outlasted unseeded Daniel Nguyen in a tie breaker in the third set 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (5) at the A.C. Nielsen Tennis Center in Winnetka, Illinois. The final was the longest Challenger final in history at three hours and 31 minutes with five rain delays. The match was finished indoors and ended at 1:31 a.m.
Somdev Devvarman wins the USTA 2015 Nielsen Men’s Pro Tennis Championship
Nguyen started the match with an overpowering forehand that was deep with a lot of topspin. Devvarman struggled to return those forehands and made uncharacteristic unforced errors early in the first set. However, Devvarman learned to play more to Nguyen’s backhand and kept the match even at 3-3.
The games were difficult to win for both players. Most games had several deuces and points were won with long rallies. They both largely played a similar game of conservative play until they set the point winner. Devvarman served well making 55% of his first serves with three aces and only two double faults. In contrast, Nguyen made only 47% of his first serves and had four double-faults.
However, by 3-3 in the first set, Nguyen looked tired. Devvarman took advantage by breaking Nguyen to go up 4-3. However, with Devvarman leading 5-4 and looking to win the first set on his serve, Nguyen recovered his energy and broke Devvarman to tie 5-5.
Devvarman was able to break back and go up 6-5 and again serve for the set. Nguyen fought off three set points, five deuces, but eventually lost the game and the set 7-5.
Nguyen won six straight games to win second set
The second set started poorly for Nguyen who looked tired and down from the first set loss. He was broken by Devvarman in the first game. Devvarman went up 4-0 and the audience got ready to soon crown Devvarman champion.
But, Nguyen had other ideas. There was a long rain delay and Nguyen regained his strength and energy. Nguyen finally won his serve, broke Devvarman and won his serve and quickly the set was 4-3. Nguyen who only got 43% of his first serves in for the entire set, made most of his first serves at this point. Nguyen went on to win six straight games to win the second set 6-4. It was a truly exciting match at this point.
Devvarman wins a rain-delayed third set and match on a tie breaker
There was another rain delay between the second and third sets which seemed to help Nguyen more than Devvarman. Both players looked tired in the third set especially after all of the rain delays. The match moved indoors at 3-3.
Both players had trouble getting their first serves in. Nguyen was particularly affected because he only won 38% of his second serve points. Otherwise, the players were fairly even statistically with nearly identical service points and return points won.
Devvarman needed five match points to win. Devvarman served it at 5-4 in third set with four potential match points. Nguyen held off all four match points and won the game to make it 5-5. The third set went to a tie breaker at 6-6 at 1:20 a.m. Devvarman won the tie breaker 7-5 to win the set and the match at 1:31 a.m. to a fairly large crowd that had sat through all of the play and rain delays.
Epic championship match
The match was truly epic for the Nielsen Pro. Both players gave their all and tenaciously fought for every point. Interestingly, Devvarman and Nguyen have a similar style of play. If Nguyen can continue to improve his conditioning, he will be a more powerful player. Nguyen’s forehand in the first five games of the match were extremely difficult to handle. Nguyen hit similar forehands only sporadically the rest of the match. Nguyen also needs to improve his first serve percentage.
Somdev Devvarman’s Career
Devvarman is 30 years old and turned pro in 2008. While he is from India, Devvarman lives and trains in Austin, Texas. He is currently ranked 173rd in the world and has a career high 96. Devvarman’s successful career has put India back on the world singles map. Devvarman is a veteran of the Nielsen Pro tourney having had previous success the past few years, including winning the men’s doubles two years ago with partner Jack Sock.
Devvarman won his first career title at a Futures Tournament in Rochester, New York. His best achievement so far on the ATP World Tour has been reaching the finals of the Chennai Open in 2009, as a wild card entry.
In 2010, Devvarman won the gold in the Men’s Singles event of the XIXth Commonwealth Games in Delhi. Devvarman won two more gold medals (singles and doubles) at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, setting a new Indian record.
Daniel Nguyen’s Career
Nguyen is 24 years old and currently ranked 229th in the world (also his career high ranking). He is the first Vietnamese American to play in the U.S. Open tennis tournament and is a graduate of the University of Southern California.
Nguyen has won a total of six singles and five doubles Futures titles. Nguyen attended the University of Southern California (USC) and was part of a team that won the NCAA Team Championship title four consecutive years.
