Gators in the Pros: Sekou Bangoura Reaches Doubles Final at Winnetka Challenger
Monday, July 27, 2015 | Men's Tennis
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Sekou Bangoura had quite the weekend at the Winnetka Challenger. The former Gator reached the final round with doubles partner, Frank Dancevic from Canada. The duo was defeated in the final round by Johan Brunstrom and Nicholas Monroe, 6-4, 3-6 (8-10).
Bangoura and Dancevic did not drop a set in the rounds leading up to the finals. The team used a 7-6(7), 6-2 victory in the quarterfinals and a walk over in the semifinals to reach the finals. This weekend was the first time that Bangoura has teamed up with Dancevic in an ITF event.
On the ATP Tour, Bangoura reached the semifinals at the Binghamton Challenger this weekend. Along the way, he defeated Wimbledon juniors' champion, Reilly Opelka, in the round of 32, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. The round of 16 matched Bangoura against the No.160-ranked Jared Donaldson, who he defeated in straight sets 6-4, 6-2. In the quarterfinals, Bangoura was able to put away Dennis Novlkov in three sets, but eventually fell to No. 113-ranked Kyle Edmund of Great Britain, 6-3, 7-6(4).
The former Gator All-American turned pro after his sophomore season at the Florida in 2010 and has found success on the ITF Pro Circuit this summer, including a doubles title in the USA F16 Futures in Tampa, Fl. in May. Bangoura teamed up with Brandon Anandan to roll through the tournament to the finals round where they defeated Jean-Yves Aubone and Rhyne Williams, 7-6(4), 7-6(4).
In singles at the USA F18 Futures in Rochester, NY during June, Bangoura used straight set victories in his first three matches to reach the semifinal round against Dominic Cotrone, where it took three sets 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-3, to reach the final round. The former Gator then fell to Emilio Gomez, 6-7(3), 4-6.
Other Gators on the ITF Pro Circuit:
Florent Diep:
- Lost in the final round with Francois-Arthur Vibert of the Serbia F3 Futures, 7-6(4), 0-6, [4-10]
- Reached the semifinal round with Elie Rousset at the France F15 Futures in Troyes, France. Diep and Roussett were defeated by Demois / Laurent, 3-6, 5-7
- Defeated two opponents to reach the Serbia F1 Futures quarterfinal round in singles
Greg Ouellette:
- Advanced to the semifinals in singles at the Netherlands F1 Futures event
- Reached the quarterfinals in singles at the Netherlands F4 Futures event, with a victory over Gavin Van Peperzeel and Jack Jaede, both from Australia
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