Malik Omarkhanov hits a return during Saturday’s LATA City Adult Singles Tournament at the University of Northwestern Ohio.
Jackelyn Johnson I The Lima News
LIMA — Two years ago, University of Northwestern Ohio tennis standout Malik Omarkhanov defeated his head coach, Jeff Brown in the championship match of the Lima Area Tennis Association (LATA) Lima City Singles Tournament in three sets.
The year before, Brown defeated Omarkhanov in a tournament in Tipp City.
In Saturday’s semifinals of the LATA Lima City Singles Tournament at UNOH, Omarkhanov got the edge in the series against his head coach when he held off Brown 6-3, 6-4 to advance to Sunday’s finals.
Omarkhanov, a fifth-year senior at UNOH, will face teammate Lucas Perez, a sophomore at UNOH, in the title match. All championship matches are scheduled for 10 a.m. at UNOH.
“Once we were playing, I was thinking that I needed to find a dead spot in his (Brown’s) game, where I could push it more,” Omarkhanov said. “In the first set, I found it. But in the second set he started putting more balls in (play). I felt a little bit down. I didn’t have all my physical power in the second set. I decided that I had to find the power, right away. I knew his movement was not good. I just had to make him run and put in a little more pace.”
Brown suffered a slight injury early in his match with Omarkhanov but managed to play the rest of the way.
Omarkhanov is from Karaganda, Kazakhstan.
Perez, who hails from General Roca, Argentina, defeated Rylan Doden (Fort Wayne, Indiana) in his semifinal, 6-0, 6-2 to advance to the finals.
Perez said it will be the first time he has faced Omarkhanov in an actual tournament setting.
“We know each other, by seeing each other play. But this is the first match (in a tournament) that we played against each other,” Perez said. “So, it’s going to be something new.
“I’ll stick to my plan. If that doesn’t work, then I have some things in my pocket. So, if things don’t work out as I think, I’ll try to change.”
Added Omarkhanov, “I’m so glad he (Perez) has reached the finals. I’m happy to be able to play him in the finals. We’ve never played against each other in an official match. So, I’m pretty sure tomorrow is going to be a tough match.”
On the women’s side, UNOH fifth-year senior Alizee Ripolles (France) defeated Maggie Fett in a semifinal match 6-0, 6-3 to advance to Sunday’s championship match.
Facing Ripolles in the title match will be 50-year-old Maci Doden (Fort Wayne, Indiana).
Doden slipped past Grace Lott in a hard-fought semifinal, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4).
However, making it to the championship match is new territory for Doden.
“My first tournament was a couple weekends ago. I just started playing tennis a couple years ago,” Doden said with a grin. “My son played, and I thought it looked really fun. Now, I’m kind of addicted to it. … It’s an obsession.”
Doden’s son Rylan lost to Perez in Saturday’s semifinals.
This is the first time that Ripolles has played in the LATA singles tournament.
“Usually, I go back home (during the summer break), but this year I couldn’t,” Ripolles said. “So, I stayed here. I’m playing in some tournaments around here this summer.
“Today was the first day that I have played since April. It’s been a long time. So, I played OK. … It could have been better, and it could have been worse.”
In Sunday’s men’s consolation bracket championship match, Zarion Jones will take on Tony Mazzarella.
In the women’s consolation bracket title match, Jennifer Allgire will take on Abigail Beck.
Saturday’s Results
at UNOH
Men’s Singles
Round of 16: Mason Stall def. Joel Long, 6-0, 6-1; Jeff Brown def. Zarion Jones, 6-1, 6-3; Mitchell Chavez def. Alexander Gonzales, 6-3, 6-2; Justin Baxter def. Tony Mazzarella, 3-6, 6-4, 10-2; Rylan Doden def. James Kent, 6-1, 4=-6, 10-6; Kane Feltner def. Curtis Hughes, 2-6, 6-3, 10-7. Malik Omarkhanov and Lucas Perez received byes.
Quarterfinals: Malik Omarkhanov def. Mason Stahl, 6-0, 6-2; Jeff Brown def. Mitchell Chavez, 6-0, 6-0; Rylan Doden def. Justin Baxter, 6-1, 6-0; Lucas Perez def. Kane Feltner, 6-0, 6-0.
Semifinals: Malik Omarkhanov def. Jeff Brown 6-3, 6-4; Lucas Perez def. Rylan Doden, 6-0, 6-2.
Women’s Singles
Quarterfinals: Grace Lott def. Jennifer Allgire, 6-1, 6-2; Maggie Fett def. Abigail Beck, 6-2, 6-0. Maci Doden. and Alizee Ripolles received byes.
Semifinals: Maci Doden def. Grace Lott, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4); Alizee Ripolles def. Maggie Fett, 6-0, 6-3.
