Hovenier overcomes Game 1 pickle, outlasts Rahachou to advance
OVERLAND PARK, KS - Blaine Hovenier’s opening match on Thursday didn’t start off the way he would have liked, but he didn’t let that stop him from ultimately getting the job done.
The No. 26 seed survived a strong start from No. 36 seed Spartak Rahachou to earn a 0-11, 11-8, 11-4 victory in the first round of the Selkirk Kansas City Open.
Rahachou seemingly couldn’t miss out of the gate and was dialed in on his drives from the baseline. That helped him accomplish a Game 1 pickle (11-0 victory) and get ahead in the second.
When that hot streak ended, though, Hovenier was ready to make his move.
“When his drives started spraying a bit, I knew I had to jump on whatever opportunity I could get,” he shared. “I really was just trying to trust my game and believe that I could fight back.”
The former UCLA and SMU tennis player eventually did fight back, erasing an 0-4 deficit in the second game before cruising to a win in Game 3.
He will next face No. 5 seed Dylan Frazier with a spot in the Round of 16 on the line.
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