It was an historic match-up that has never happened befor and may never happen again.
The oldest current player in the ATP singles rankings aainst the youngest current player ranked in the ATP singles rankings. Never before in tennis history has there been a more unique pairing than the final-round qualifying match at the $15,000 Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships USTA Pro Circuit ITF World Tennis Tour event at the Sea Oaks Beach & Tennis Club in Vero Beach, Florida between 15-year-old Teodor Davidov of Bradenton, Fla., and 45-year-old Ryan Haviland of Greenville, S.C. Ranked No. 1,594, Davidov earned his first two (of three) ATP ranking points at event in Naples, Florida event in February and faced the No.1,954-ranked Haviland.
Davidov is even more fascinating to watch with his rare ambidextrous stroking style that features two one-handed forehands from both sides as well as his ability to serve right-handed to the deuce court and left-handed to the advantage side. Davidov, who was born in Bulgaria but has lived and trained in Bradenton with his father/coach Kalin at Inspiration Tennis Academy for years, completed his rain-delayed first-round qualifying match Tuesday morning, with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Lucca Pignaton of Brazil.
“It will be tough because he’s older and wiser with a lot more experience,’’ said Davidov before the match. “I can’t underestimate anyone and just have to play my best out there.”
Haviland, who was part of Stanford’s four consecutive NCAA championship teams run in the 1990s, often playing at the No. 1spot, turned pro in 2001 and reached a career-high rank of 516 in 2004. He has won five Futures titles, however 11 different surgeries derailed his pro career.
Every spring he plays a few Futures events to help satisfy his competitive zeal and serve as an example for the junior players he coaches at his academy in Greenvale.
“I used to play guys half my age and now for the second time in a few weeks I’m playing a kid a third of my age,’’ Haviland said with a smile, referring to his recent victory over 15-year-old Piotr Gradzki in an Orlando $15K Future. “Teodor is different though with those two forehands and ability to serve with either hand. I teach juniors and I can still beat them, so I want to challenge myself with the new generation of pros. I enjoy the competition.”
Haviland accomplished both in a high-quality 6-7 (2), 6-3 (10-6) victory over Davidov in a thrilling battle on Stadium Court in front of a sold-out gallery. WATCH a review video of the match here https://youtu.be/nCU5c-8M4Y0?si=wsFS3LuHg7dX-itB
“That was a good one for the older generation,’’ said Haviland, who is into the 32-player main draw which begins Wednesday afternoon.
Haviland, who often relies on an old-school serve-and-volley attack while picking his spots on the slower green clay at Sea Oaks, was serving for the first set at 6-5, but was broken when his volley went long. Davidov double-faulted at 2-1 of the tiebreak but then reeled off five consecutive points for the first set.
However, Davidov became more passive in the second set and Haviland’s first-serve percentage was off the charts as he jumped out to a 5-1 lead. Davidov, receiving some encouragement in Bulgarian from his father/coach Kalin from the upper balcony, regrouped and stormed back to 3-5. A marathon game ensued with Haviland unable to convert five set points before finally taking the set on No. 6 with a huge serve out wide that Davidov popped up for an easy overhead slam for Haviland.
“I got hot and started really attacking,’’ said Haviland, who has faced top Americans such as Paul and Frances Tiafoe. “He got mentally down. I kept ripping and missing routine shots on those set points.
“I’m on my way down and he’s on his way up. I’m just happy I survived. The tiebreak is basically a coin flip. I’ve never played a player like that. Normally, you’re fairly safe rallying to their backhand but with him both forehands are aggressive. He really pops them.”
Haviland, just two years younger than Davidov’s father, jumped out to a 6-1 and 8-3 lead in the decisive 10-point tiebreak, but again the 5-foot-7 Davidov clawed back to 6-8 before a forehand error (they’re all forehand errors!), set up the first match point that Haviland once again went with a booming serve out wide that Davidov barely sent over the net. Haviland crushed another one of his trademark overheads to wrap up the taut match.
“My energy dropped off a little bit and I lost some focus,’’ an upset Davidov said. “I just wasn’t playing my best tennis. I wasn’t stepping into the ball enough and was playing too passively. He’s really fit and has lots of endurance. I knew he was good. I just have to be in it mentally and play at a steady level.”
This tournament provides thousands of dollars to at-risk children in Indian River Country. Fish, a former Top 10 player and a Vero Beach native, began this event in 1995. Fish’s father Tom is the president of the tournament.
“The Sea Oaks Beach & Tennis Club is one of the most beautiful tennis venues in Florida and will make for a spectacular setting for our Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships USTA Pro Circuit event,” said Tom Fish, chairman emeritus for the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation. “Sea Oaks has an incredible reputation for tennis participation and for their support attending exhibition matches and our annual singles wild card event on their charming stadium court. We know this will be a unique atmosphere for a Futures level event with sold-out, standing room only crowds attending daily, which the players will certainly enjoy.”
