Australia's Kyrgios captures the men's singles Sarasota Open title

A pair of up-and-coming men’s players highlighted the final day of competition at the 2014 Sarasota Open April 20, at the Tennis Gardens at the Longboat Key Club.

Eighteen-year-old Nick Kyrgios of Australia defeated 22-year-old Filip Krajinovic of Serbia 7-6 (10), 6-4 to win this year’s men’s singles title.

“I’m looking forward to coming back to Sarasota and defending my title,” Kyrgios says.

Kyrgios, who is ranked 171st in the world and has been ranked as high as 157, upset the United States’ Donald Young 6-4, 6-4 in the quarterfinals before coming back to defeat the United States’ Daniel Kosakowski 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinals April 19.

“Nick Kyrgios is a major talent who will add to the lore that winners of the Sarasota Open have had on the ATP Tour,” said Tony Driscoll, tournament director. “Three of our last five winners have become top 20 players in the world after capturing the Sarasota Open. I expect the same destiny for Mr. Kyrgios. The tournament this year was a huge success and had major promotional value for Longboat Key and Sarasota.”

In doubles tournament action, the men’s finals came down to a third-set tiebreaker. Croatia’s Marin Draganja and Finland’s Henri Kontinen defeated Spain’s Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo and Croatia’s Franko Skugor 7-5, 5-7, 10-6 to win the doubles title.

Ukraine’s Elizaveta Ianchuk defeated the United States’ Jeda Daniel 6-1, 6-4 to win the Nick Bollettieri Sarasota Women’s Open final April 19.

Bollettieri, a 2014 Tennis Hall of Fame inductee, was honored for his contributions and lifelong dedication to tennis during an on-court ceremony prior to the women’s singles final.

Also on Saturday, the Longboat Key Fine Art Festival featured colorful and original works from local and national artisans at the Tennis Gardens. The event offered Sarasota Open attendees a break filled with paintings, jewelry, pottery and sculptures.

For more information about the 2014 Sarasota Open, including a complete list of tournament participants and results, visit sarasotaopen.org.

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected]