Tennis: Svajda defends his Tiburon Challenger title
Zachary Svajda has emerged as a man to watch in front of the very eyes of Marin County tennis fans.
Last year, when he won his first $75,000 Tiburon Challenger title for arguably his career highlight thus far, the La Jolla native was a skinny teen trying to make some noise. It’s hard to look past Svajda’s 2022 title victory over eventual Top 20 player Ben Shelton, but Svajda says his second straight championship on Sunday at Tiburon Peninsula Club was even more satisfying.
Svajda became the first player in the 16-year history of the event to win back-to-back titles with a convincing 6-2, 6-2 victory over Australian Adam Walton. An American has now advanced to the winner’s circle in Tiburon for the fourth consecutive time.
“They are both very special but maybe this year is more special because it’s nice to go back-to-back,” said Svajda. “It just feels really good. I definitely took confidence from (my win over Shelton), but I try not to put too much pressure on myself. A win is a win whoever I play. I’m very confident right now.”
Sporting a goatee and now 20 years old, No. 170 Svajda also won the Challenger event last month in Cary, N.C. On Sunday, he dispatched No. 164 Walton in just 1 hour, 20 minutes before a sellout crowd.
Svajda and Walton have traveled completely different roads as pros toiling on the Challenger circuit. Svajda turned pro at 16 and has made three appearances in the U.S. Open. He went through qualifying to earn a coveted berth in the main draw this year and received wildcards in 2019 and 2021 as the USTA Boys’ 18s national champion.
Walton went the college route and played for the University of Tennessee, where he earned a degree in kinesiology and a master’s degree in management and human resources.
With more time on court as a pro despite being four years younger, Svajda was fully in control against Walton. In the 35-minute first set, Svajda won four straight games including two breaks of serve to shut down Walton. Although Walton played a little better in the second set, Svajda overcame the Aussie for a solid, efficient finish.
Walton fought off four break points while serving to pull to within 3-1 in the second set. Svajda had won seven straight games up until that point. Walton had a few other chances, but Svajda relied on his speed, variety of shots and penetrating ground strokes, especially when Walton was a net, to close out the win.
Walton expressed a similar sentiment heard throughout the tournament, which featured sellouts for the semifinals and finals for the first time.
“I can honestly say it’s one of the best tournaments I’ve ever been to,” said Walton. “Everything has been phenomenal.”
Canadian Alexis Galarneau, the fifth seed ranked No. 174, echoed Walton’s comments. Galarneau lost to Svajda in straight sets in the semifinals.
“The hospitality and the warm welcome we have received has been awesome, from the whole organization as well as my host family,” said Galarneau. “The surroundings are amazing, with a great atmosphere and people excited to come and watch our matches. It has been very fun.”
In the doubles final on Saturday, Luke Johnson of Great Britain and Skander Mansouri of Tunisia upset top-seeded William Blumberg of New York City and Luis David Martinez of Venezuela 6-2, 6-3.
The Tiburon Challenger is the fourth of five consecutive weeks of ATP Challengers that make up the USTA Pro Circuit’s fall swing. The tour moves to Solano College in Fairfield on Monday.