IRISH DAVIS CUPPER IS CROWNED FLORIDA ONE-ON-ONE DOUBLES CHAMP
The historic St. Petersburg Tennis Center was treated to a special day of serve-and-volley tennis that included food trucks, a live band, DJ and 16 players with ATP and ITF tournament experience. The $15,000 Florida One-On-One Doubles Championships, presented by Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater, was won by Osgar O’Hoisin. Osgar starred at the University of Wisconsin and is representing Ireland on their Davis Cup team. Osgar won his round robin group which included Noah Rubin, who was ranked as high as #125 on the ATP Tour. Rubin was the tournament’s top seed.
O’Hoisin defeated Martin Redlicki 6-1 in the tournament’s semifinal match. Redlicki, who captured the Winter Haven One-On-One Doubles Title last May, is known for three top 50 ATP Singles wins during his playing career. In the championship match, the Irishman, O’Hoisin, defeated Croatia’s former #1 junior player, Filip Kraljevic, 6-4, in an exciting battle of serve-and-volley tennis.
O’Hoisin, who played in his first One-On-One Doubles tournament, was both excited and impressed with the St. Petersburg event. ” I absolutely loved the One-On-One Doubles tournament for a number of reasons: The crosscourt serve-and-volley singles format -with the two point bonus for the volley/overhead winner -made every point of each match so exciting! I also think the atmosphere, which was created at the tournament, was amazing and nothing like a normal tennis tournament I have played. The crowd was able to get excited and loud at every point. There was food, music and a great vibe around the club which was so enjoyable to see as a player! There was a party like atmosphere more similar to an NBA/NFL game than a tennis match! Hopefully this successful One-On-One Doubles tournament can help steer tennis towards a more playful exciting atmosphere that more and more tennis fans can get behind”, stated O’Hoisin.
The tournament was filmed for Bally Sports Florida and Bally Sports Sun, two of Florida’s premiere sports television networks. The show’s premiere will air sometime in June with five airings to follow.Ed Krass, tournament director, was happy the event went smoothly despite all day rain projections.”I think we experienced a minor miracle pulling this event off with a full day of rain forecasted. This was one of our best tournament events. I am fired up to watch the event’s television show in June, said Krass. “95% of our tournament draw was comprised of ATP experienced players, so this one really showcased the game at a high level for the local fans”, Krass added.
ATP legends Luke Jensen and Jimmy Arias were there to announce the matches for television. Jensen and Arias also conducted a net game clinic for sponsor VIPs.Upcoming events include four Junior One-On-One Doubles prize money tournaments coming to the Inspiration Tennis Academy in Bradenton this June and July. For more information about One-On-One Doubles visit http://www.oneononedoubles.com .