LOS ANGELES (Jan. 7, 2017) – Reigning NCAA singles champion Mackenzie McDonald will meet 19-year-old University of Virginia freshman Carl Soderlund in the final of the Southern California Pro Futures Tournament, a $25,000 USTA Pro Circuit event taking place on the campus of USC.
The former three-time singles All-American at UCLA McDonald earned his way into Sunday’s 11 a.m. final after beating a former USC Trojan for the second consecutive day. The No. 5-seeded McDonald eliminated Yannick Hanfmann, the No. 4-seed from Germany, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Soderlund, the No. 8-seed from Sweden, won a close contest against former University of Michigan star Evan King, 7-6 (2), 6-7 (6), 6-3. King owns the Wolverines program record for most combined career singles and doubles wins (196), and he ranks third all-time on Michigan’s singles wins list with 117 victories. King has won 17 USTA Pro Circuit and ITF Circuit doubles titles, including four titles in 2016. In June 2016, he won the singles title at the $10,000 Futures in Buffalo, N.Y.
Soderlund is 6-foot-4 and a great athlete who moves exceptionally well on the court. Think Thomas Enquist in stature, with the movement and athleticism of Stefan Edberg.
According to a recent article in the Charlottesville Daily Progress, Soderlund was coached as a junior by former Swedish pro Joakim Nystrom, who won a Wimbledon doubles title with Mats Wilander in 1986. In the same article announcing his arrival at the University of Virginia, Cavaliers Men’s Tennis Coach Brian Bolander was quoted as saying: “Carl is extremely mature on the court for his age. His temperament is beyond his years.”
“He’s been all about business all week,” USC head men’s tennis coach and tournament host Peter Smith said. “He’s very efficient and acts like a pro out there. He just gets the job done. “
Back in May, McDonald made college tennis history by sweeping both the 2016 NCAA singles and doubles titles, the first men’s player in 15 years to do so. McDonald also finished his final season ranked No. 1 in singles and doubles in the ITA collegiate rankings. In 2016, he made his debut at the US Open as a wild card, and in 2015, he won the American Collegiate Invitational, a tournament held at the US Open for college players. Also in 2016, McDonald won the first USTA Pro Circuit singles title of his career at the $10,000 Futures in Irvine, Calif., while also winning the fifth doubles title of his career at the $100,000 Challenger in Fairfield, Calif. He also reached the singles semifinals of three USTA Pro Circuit Challengers last fall.
Sunday’s singles winner will receive a $3,200 check and 27 valuable ATP points, with the runner-up getting $2,120 and 15 points.
Saturday’s Semifinal Singles Scores
Carl Soderlund, Sweden (8), def. Evan King, U.S., 7-6 (2), 6-7 (6), 6-3
Mackenzie McDonald, U.S. (5), def. Yannick Hanfmann, Germany (4), 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
Friday’s Final Doubles Score
Yannick Hanfmann, Germany / Roberto Quiroz, Ecuador, def. Luke Bambridge, Great Britain / Joe Salisbury, Great Britain (1), 3-6, 6-4, 10-8
Community Events for the USC Tournament include:
Sunday, Jan. 8: USPTA Clinic – Preventing Injuries Presented by USC Coach Peter Smith; 10 a.m.-11 a.m.