Florida’s Mmoh Wins 1st Challenger Title; Little Mo Tennis Preview

Bradenton Teen Mmoh Wins Knoxville Challenger Title

Eighteen-year-old Michael Mmoh of Bradenton, Fla., won his first career Challenger-level last weekend, defeating Canadian Davis Cup player Peter Polansky 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 in the final of the $50,000 ATP Knoxville Challenger.

It has been a strong fall season for the teen, who in October lost in the final of the Tiburon (Calif.) Challenger.

The win brought Mmoh up to No. 204 on the ATP Rankings. He joined fellow Americans Reilly Opelka, Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz as Challenger title winners this year.

The title also gave Mmoh the lead for an Australian Open main draw wild card as the leader in the USTA Australian Open Wild Card Challenge. The final tournament of the wild card challenge is this week in Champagne, Ill.

“I never imagined before this week, or actually a couple of months ago, I never pictured myself in the finals and winning a Challenger in consecutive months, so I’m really happy,” he told the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Mmoh, born in Saudi Arabia, trains at IMG Academy in Bradenton and is the son of former ATP pro Tony Mmoh, who played Olympic tennis for Nigeria.

This year Mmoh has won a title and reached a final on the Futures circuit, and has now accomplished the same on the Challenger circuit. He is 5-2 career in finals on the USTA Pro Circuit.

For more USTA Pro Circuit info go to www.usta.com.

Preview: 2 Florida Players Going for “Little Mo” Slam in December

Carter Swope

The 10th annual “Little Mo” Internationals will be held at the PGA National Resort & Spa and BallenIsles Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., on Dec. 2-7, 2016, featuring some of the top age 8 to 14-year-old players from more than 50 countries.

Players will be competing in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles on clay courts in green dot and yellow ball divisions.

Festivities will include the Parade of Nations and Opening Ceremony, a carnival-style party for players and parents, and guest speaker and former ATP pro Johan Kriek.

Players competing for the “Little Mo Slam,” or winning all three legs of the Little Mo Internationals in their age group, are JoAnna Kennedy (Girls’ 8) from Denver, Co.; Yubel Ubri (Boys’ 9) from Miami Beach, Fla.; and Akasha Urhobo (Girls’ 9) from Lauderhill, Fla.

Former “Little Mo” Internationals champions include Andy Roddick and Ryan Harrison.

For more information visit www.littlemoflorida.com.