Black Tennis Pros

American Sekou Bangoura, Brandenton, Florida

Former University of Florida standout Sekou Bangoura continues to carry over his stellar play from last year in Sunday’s final of the Sanchez-Casal Tennis Academy $15,000 USTA-ITF World Tennis Tour event, beating Brazil’s Pedro Sakamoto 7-6(6), 6-0 for his first title of the 2019 in season in Naples, Fla.

The No. 4-seeded American was 3-1 in ITF finals last year. The 27-year-old Bradenton resident improves to 8-5 in career finals.

Bangoura in the semifinals defeated No. 7 seed Pietro Rondoni of Italy 7-6(2), 6-1, while Sakamota came back from a set down to outlast 18-year-old Nicolas Mejia of Colombia 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, a wearing result that took its toll the next day in the final.

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In December, former world No.4 American James Blake, who is now ranked 59th, cited personal reasons for his withdrawal.

He will be replaced by Ricardo Mello of Brazil in the draw for the Brisbane tournament, which starts on Sunday and is a key lead-up event for the Australian Open starting on January 16.

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said he was sorry to hear of Blake's withdrawal and wished him "all the best''.

The 31-year-old's absence struck a chord with Tiley, who coached the University of Illinois men's tennis team from 1993 to 2005.

The pair crossed paths often during that period, with Blake playing two seasons at Harvard from 1998-99 during which time he was the No.1 collegiate player in the United States.

"He's a great competitor and I've been involved with James' tennis for over 15 years,'' Tiley recalled.

"I coached against him and I've known him for a long time. He's always fun to have around. It's disappointing not to have him at the Australian Open.''

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