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One of the hottest players on the ATP Tour right now is 25 year old American Tennys Sandgren.

The Tennessee native won the Savannah Challenger final today against Juan Sorgi 64 63 for his second Challenger title of the year and third overall.

Sandgren, who names Agassi and Kuerten as his tennis heroes, was a quality junior but never reached the fourth round of a junior Grand Slam though he did achieve an ITF ranking of 9 in the world. He played collegiate tennis at University of Tennessee for two years – reaching the semis of the NCAA singles championship in 2011 (losing to teammate Rhyne Williams in three sets) – before deciding to hit the Tour.

On the ATP Tour Sandgren has won three Challenger singles titles and seven in doubles. Last month he played his first ATP main draw in Houston, losing in the first round.

By winning Savannah and finaling in Sarasota has earned the USTA French Open wildcard into the main draw, which will be his first Grand Slam main draw appearance.

Just two years ago Sandgren’s ranking dropped all the way to the 700s following a hip surgery but the 6-foot-2, 190-pounder has battled his way back to a career high ranking of 134.

Previous Grand Slam qualifying attempts:

Sandgren played US Open qualies in 2011 and lost first round to Bradley Klahn in three sets.

Played US Open qualies in 2012 – beat Guido Pella but lost in second round to Franko Skugor 63 67 75.

In 2013 at Australian Open he won a quali round vs Bogomolov then lost to Potito Starace 64 64. Roland Garros he lost 9-7 in third first round to Ruben Bemelman. At US Open qualies he lost in three sets to Peter Gojowczyk.

2014: US Open lost first round qualies to Peter Polansky 64 57 26. In Australia he lost in straight sets to Dusan Lajovic 67 36.

2015: Lost to Yuichi Sugita in three sets in Australia qualies.

2016: Lost to Jurgen Melzer at US Open qualies 57 16. In Australia won a qualies round vs Uchiyama but lost to Tatsuma Ito 64 62.

So Roland Garros will be Sandgrens tenth appearance at a Grand Slam and finally his first in a main draw.

Sandgren has some interesting wins. In 2009 he beat Steve Johnson 6-2 in the third in a Florida Futures. He also beat Serena’s hitting partner Robbye Poole 6362 that same year in a Futures. He also lost to Poole 64 in the third two years later 64 in the third at a NY Futures.

At a 2009 Futures in Dominican Republic Sandgren beat current ATP top 50 Nikolay Basilashvili 61 in the third.

Congratulations to Tennys Sandgren for his perseverance and dedication. Â He is a leading contender to be awarded the ATP Comeback Player of the Year.

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