World no. 233 Bernard Tomic is off to a winning start at the LTP Challenger in Charleston. The Aussie took down Denis Kudla 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 in two and a half hours, fending off five match points in the closing stages of the decider and celebrating his 80th Challenger victory in a career. Former world no. 17 lost the second set and struggled in the third, trailing 4-2 and offering his rival match points in games ten and 12. Tomic denied them and moved over the top in the tie break, struggling physically in challenging conditions but overcoming all the challenges. The Aussie served at 48% and struggled behind the second serve. Bernard played against 19 break points, defending 15, including five in the closing stages of the duel. The American claimed three points more but not the pivotal ones, squandering his opportunities and getting broken three times. Denis squandered game points in the first game of the encounter and netted a routine forehand, losing serve and falling behind.
Denis Kudla, 2024 Charleston Challenger© Stream screenshot
The home player missed more chances on serve in the third game and suffered a break after Tomic’s forehand crosscourt winner. Kudla pulled one break back in the fourth game, and they both served well in the remaining ones. The Aussie held at love in the eighth game with a drop shot winner and held at 15 two games later for 6-4 after 43 minutes. Denis denied two break points in the first game of the second set and turned the tables. He clinched a break in game two with a running backhand winner and made another push on the return at 2-1. Bernard saved four break points, staying within one break deficit before facing more issues at 1-4. Preserving energy, former world no. 17 embraced all-or-nothing shots and saved them with four winners. The Aussie could not find his strokes for the fourth straight game at 2-5, suffering a break after the American’s forehand down the line winner. They served well at the beginning of the final set before squandering a 40-0 advantage in the fifth game.
Bernard Tomic, 2024 Charleston Challenger© Stream screenshot
Bernard Tomic saved five match points versus Denis Kudla in Charleston.
Denis played against three break points, saving them and gathering a boost. He broke Bernard at 30 in the sixth game, moving 4-2 in front and closer to the finish line. Tomic recovered and broke back at love in the seventh game, returning to the positive side and holding after a deuce in game eight for 4-4. The American attacked on the return in the tenth game, generating two match points with a smash winner. Kudla missed the first with a loose backhand, and former world no. 17 saved the second with a service winner, holding and passing the first challenging obstacle. The second emerged two games later when the Aussie served to stay in the match for the second time. Denis generated three match points, looking good to seal the deal against the tired opponent. Tomic kept his composure and denied them with winners, holding and introducing a tie break. The American netted a routine backhand in the third point and hit a forced error in the next one, falling 3-1 behind.
Abdullah Shelbayh, 2024 Charleston Challenger© Stream screenshot
Bernard grabbed another mini-break for 4-1 and created four match points after Denis’ forehand error. Former no. 17 seized the second after the rival’s loose backhand, prevailing and moving into the second round after a massive turnaround. A year ago, Abdullah Shelbayh wrote history in Charleston, becoming the first player from Jordan to lift the Challenger title. The young gun could not repeat that run this week, suffering a heavy 6-3, 6-0 loss to Alexis Galarneau in 66 minutes. The former University of Florida star struggled on serve and return, wasting all three break points and dropping over half of the points in his games. The Canadian turned them into five breaks from six opportunities, controlling the pace and providing a bagel in set number two. The encounter kicked off with four fine holds before a left-hander experienced issues at 2-2.
Abdullah Shelbayh & Alexis Galarneau, 2024 Charleston Challenger© Stream screenshot
The young gun sprayed errors and netted a forehand, losing serve at 15 and sending his rival in front. Galarneau defended two break points in the sixth game and another at 4-3, maintaining the advantage. Abdullah experienced another break in the ninth game, allowing his rival to clinch the opener 6-3 in 38 minutes. The Canadian fired a return winner in the second game of the second set, earning a break and moving closer to the finish line. Alexis claimed the third game with a service winner and welcomed the rival’s double fault in the next one for a massive 4-0 lead. Galarneau secured the fifth game with a forehand winner, forcing Shelbayh to serve to stay in the match. The Jordanian played another loose service game, missing a backhand and offering the Canadian a match point. Alexis converted it when the 7th seed netted a forehand, booking a place in the quarter-final and dethroning the young gun.