University of Tennessee Athletics
Smith Reaches First ATP Semifinal
July 16, 2015 | Men's Tennis
NEWPORT, R.I. -- Former Tennessee star John-Patrick Smith won for the third time this week to advance to his first career ATP-level semifinal Thursday at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships.
With his big lefty serve rolling, Smith fired 15 aces and saved all three of his break points in a 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-3 victory over Tatsuma Ito in the quarterfinals.
Smith, who qualified for Wimbledon for the first time last month, has compiled even more career firsts in the last grass court tournament of the season. He won his first ATP-level match on Monday when he defeated world No. 25 and fellow Australian Bernard Tomic in straight sets, his first win against a player in the top 50.
Until this week, he had never even been a direct acceptance into an tour-level tournament; he was the last direct acceptance at No. 165, skipping qualifying and going straight into the main draw of 32 for the first time.
On Thursday, Smith was out to the races early, breaking Ito's first service game to go up 3-0 early and eventually serving out the set 6-3. Smith had a break point chance in the second set but did not convert, and Ito forced a third set with a 7-2 win in the tiebreaker.
Smith said it wasn't his strongest day of returning, but he got the chance he needed to pull away at 4-3 in the third set. With Ito serving at 30-30, Smith was able to lob a shot just over Ito's head during an exchange at the net. He capitalized on the following break point to go up 5-3 and quickly served out the match.
"It's tough to get a rhythm out there," Smith said. "I had a big play at the 30-all, got it a little bit over his head. I served it out pretty convincingly toward the end as well. It was good to get through comfortably that last game."
In Saturday's semifinals, Smith will take on American Rajeev Ram, who won the tournament in 2009. Ram defeated fifth-seeded Adrian Mannarino in the first quarterfinal Thursday.
"It's going to be important that I serve well as well as try to make as many returns as possible," Smith said. "Obviously he must've served pretty well today to beat Mannarino."
Tennessee has faired well at the Tennis Hall of Fame Championships. Associate head coach Chris Woodruff won the tournament in 1999. Rhyne Williams was a singles semifinalist and doubles finalist in 2013. Smith reached the doubles semifinals last year.
