By SDCN Staff
La Jolla, CA–Fans were treated to a thrilling final on Sunday at La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club as third-seed Rylan Rizza of Redondo Beach, CA scored a dramatic 0-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7) come-from-behind victory over top-seed Matthew Hane of Johns Island, South Carolina to win the USTA National 40 Hard Court men’s singles title.
Hane, who won the singles title in 2023, took control early in the title match on Court No. 1 as he broke Rizza in the opening game. The top seed capitalized on two additional service breaks and dropped a total of seven points in winning the first set at love in 23 minutes.
The 40-year-old Rizza, a former collegiate All-American at the University of Virginia, held serve to open the second set and slowly began working his way into the match. As he raised the level of his game, Rizza broke Hane in the sixth game, then held serve for a 5-2 lead.
After Hane hit two aces and easily held at love in the eighth game, Rizza fended off three break points in the next game and held serve to close out the set, sending the match to a third set.
Hane and Rizza exchanged two service breaks early in the third set, but got back on serve in the eighth game. Later, Rizza served to stay in the match at 5-6 and fell behind 15-40, but he fought off both championship points and eventually held serve to force a tiebreak.
Rizza opened the tiebreaker with a perfectly executed backhand drop shot winner, but Hane came back to take a 4-2 lead. Rizza then won four straight points for a 6-4 lead. Hane dismissed two championship points to even the tiebreak at 6-6.
With the large crowd cheering loudly, Rizza won three of the next four points, and after two hours and 33 minutes, he clinched the title on his fourth championship point when Hane netted a backhand half-volley.
“It feels good to win. I was lucky enough to get through it today. Matt was on fire. He was serving huge, beat me to the first shot and put me on the defensive in the first set. I was just hoping not to embarrass myself. I won a few games in the second set and finally started getting into the match,” Rizza said after being awarded his USTA gold ball for winning the national championship.
“I started serving better, making fewer unforced errors and getting more balls in play. He (Hane) started making some mistakes and I was able to get back in the match,” Rizza added. “I just played one point at a time in the third set. That was all I could do. I had a little bit of luck for sure.”
Earlier in the day, fourth-seeded Joel Kielbowicz was awarded the USTA bronze ball for winning the Third-Place singles match with a walkover. His opponent, second-seeded Henry Choi of Vancouver, Canada, could not play the match due to injury.
Later in the afternoon, Hane teamed with Brett Morse-Karzen of Wilmette, Ill., to win the men’s doubles championship with a 6-4, 6-4 victory in one hour and 27 minutes over Rizza and Kielbowicz on Court No. 2.
USTA National 40 Hard Court Championships La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club Sunday’s results:
Men’s Singles Championship
Rylan Rizza (3), Redondo Beach, CA, def. Matthew Hane (1), Johns Island, S.C., 0-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7).
Third Place
Joel Kielbowicz (4), Scottsdale, AZ, def. Henry Choi (2), Vancouver, Canada, walkover (injury).
Men’s Doubles Championship
Brett Morse-Karzen (5), Wilmette, Ill., and Matthew Hane, Johns Island, S.C., def. Joel Kielbowicz (2), Scottsdale, AZ., and Rylan Rizza, Redondo Beach, CA, 6-4, 6-4.
Third Place
Brian Morton (1), Newport Coast, CA, and Cameron Ball, Orange, CA, def. Brett Masi (3), Long Beach, CA, and Ryan Keckley, San Diego, walkover (injury).
