Pro Circuit Recap – Six in a Row for Lock/Galloway; Cid, Shane, Scholtz, Rosca, and Kukharchuk Win Singles Titles

Last week was another strong on the pro tour for players with college ties. The unstoppable doubles duo of Rob Galloway (Wofford ’15) and Ben Lock (Florida State ’16) ran their winning streak to 23 after winning a sixth straight doubles title. Galloway and Lock won a third straight doubles title in South Africa after previously winning three straight in Kuwait. They won their first three matches in straight sets and then in the finals of the South Africa F3 in Stellenbosch they edged Jaime Pulgar-Garcia (NC State ’12) and Javier Pulgar-Garcia (San Diego State ’12) 7-6, 6-7, 10-5. Lock’s ranking is now a new career high of 247 while Galloway has a new career high of 284. Galloway finished the year with seven doubles titles while Lock won nine. 

Former USF Bull Roberto Cid won his third singles title of the year after defeating former UNC Tar Heel Jose Hernandez-Fernandez 6-3, 6-2 in the finals of Dominican Republic F2 Futures in Santo Domingo Este. Cid won all five of his matches in straight sets with only one of nine sets closer than 6-3. Cid picked up 18 ATP points and when those are added in next week he’ll have a new career-high ranking of around 421. 

Former Virginia Cavalier Ryan Shane won his second singles title of the year, fourth career, with a 7-6, 6-1 win over Japan’s Kaichi Uchida in the finals of the USA F40 Futures in Tallahassee, Florida. Shane didn’t drop a set all week and he only dropped seven games in his first three matches (quarterfinal was a walkover). Shane picked up 27 ATP points and will see his ranking rise to 438 next week (CH-424). 

Former Ole Miss Rebel Nik Scholtz won his sixth singles title of the year, 13th career, with a close 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(2) win over France’s Leny Mitjana in the finals of the South Africa F3 in Stellenbosch. Scholtz and Mitjana were meeting for the third week in a row with Scholtz winning in the finals of the South Africa F1 while Mitjana won in three sets in the semifinals of the South Africa F2 in route to winning the title. Scholtz won his first three matches in straight sets before edging Ben Lock 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 in in the semifinals. In the finals against Mitjana, Scholtz had a break lead in the third set on two occasions but both times Mitjana broke back in the next game. The tiebreak was all-Scholtz with the former Reb jumping out to a 4-0 lead and cruising to take it 7-2. Scholtz is currently ranked 354 but when these 18 points are added in he’ll jump up to around 326 (CH-320). 

TCU freshman Andreea Rosca won her first career pro singles title after defeating Austria’s Melanie Klaffner 6-4, 6-4 in the final of the ITF $15K in Cairo, Egypt. Rosca won her opening two matches in straight sets but then was pushed to a third set in each of next two matches. Rosca is currently ranked 814 but is expected to jump up to 675 when these 12 points are added in next week. 

Nika Kukharchuk, which is another former Ole Miss Rebel, won her first singles title of the year, second career, with a 6-0, 2-6, 6-2 win over Miami commit Sofia Sewing in the finals of the ITF $15K in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Kukharchuk won eight of nine sets in her first four matches including a 6-1, 6-3 win in the semifinals over Argentina’s Agustina Chlpac. Kukharchuk earned 12 WTA points with the win and should see her ranking jump up to around 588 next week (CH-456). 

Former Notre Dame Fighting Irish Alex Lawson and former SMU Mustang Nate Lammons closed out their season with a doubles title at the USA F40 Futures in Tallahassee, Florida. Lawson and Lammons cruised through all four matches including a 6-3, 6-0 win in the final over Florida State seniors Jose Gracia and Lucas Poullain. The doubles title was the third of the year for Lawson and the seventh for Lammons. Both guys will finish the year ranked inside the top 200 with Lammons currently at 197 while Lawson at 191. 

Below is a list of last weekend’s winners and runner-ups on the pro circuit.

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* didn’t stay in college for all four years