A fascinating clash happened yesterday at Tiburon Challenger, featuring 28 year old Stefan Kozlov vs 18 year old Darwin Blanch.
The first round duel was a rematch of a three setter the two played late last year at Champaign Challenger (semi(, won by Kozlov 62 67 63.
Yesterday’s thriller saw Blanch win the first set 63, Kozlov won the second 62 and then the two American’s bombarded and finessed each other to a third set tiebreaker.
A lot was on the line in this match. Blanch had lost first round at seven straight tournaments while Kozlov’s results this summer were subpar with mostly early round losses in Challengers. His last good result was beating Yibing Wu in Newport first round after qualifying but then he lost to Jacob Fearnley in three sets in round of sixteen.
Blanch earned the first match point however Kozlov laser-beamed the inside out forehand angled winner for 66. Kozlov got his first match point at 76 but Blanch connected on a backhand passing shot and roared a ferocious CMON!
Down 78 and match point again, Kozlov’s second serve was hit long by Blanch. 88. Umpire warned Kozlov he had ten seconds to serve. He won the point. But on the next match point Kozlov hit a second serve return wide and looked down in despair. 99.
Kozlov took that point with a forehand up the line that Blanch netted for 10-9, another match point. But Blanch won a 20 ball rally with a backhand pass. 10-10 Kozlov was hit with a time violation and lost his first serve. Kozlov then hit the second ball forehand long and Blanch had another match point 11-10.
He finally ended it with a strike to Kozlov’s backhand which he netted while lunging. Blanch fell on his back in joy and relief, it was his first win since Newport in early July where he beat Garrett Johns and Murphy Cassone before losing to Jacob Fearnley in QF.
It was tennis at it’s best, drama, tension, high level tennis, guts, shotmaking and desperation from two players trying to improve their rankings and statuses.
Kozlov is currently ranked 291 while Blanch is at 245.
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Andrew Miller · September 17, 2026 at 12:21 pm
Good to see Kozlov still at it! The kid everyday must be like, “ugh I used to play Tiafoe all the time”…
Scoop Malinowski · September 17, 2026 at 2:00 pm
Andrew, it was an incredible match with a lot at stake. Tiburon is like a Grand Slam of Challengers. Big event, big sponsors, big bucks, nice venue. It was a heartbreaker loss with the match points and saving MP but he will survive and bounce back stronger. He showed some good signs, forehand winners, gutsy shots, just the kid made a pair of do or die backhand passes. That’s tennis. Cruel sport sometimes.
Andrew Miller · September 17, 2026 at 8:40 pm
On the right day it is joyous to see a player figure out another player and go for the jugular. Tiburon has been doing a lot right for a long time. I think thar was one of the tournaments where many of today’s players have made a mark.
Scoop Malinowski · September 17, 2026 at 8:52 pm
Indeed Tiburon is a launching pad and it looks like Zheng will win it and near the top 50, he’s at 88 now.