Reid topples top seed in familiar matchup

A surge of improvement carried JonBrann Reid to a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Benjamin Koch in the boys division of the United States Tennis Association's Southern Closed Boys and Girls 16's Championships at Rebsamen Tennis Center in Little Rock on Saturday.

Reid, 16, of Claremont, N.C., began play as the No. 5 seed. Koch was the top seed, but he remembered his last two matches with Reid. In their first four years earlier, Reid won 7-6, 6-4. Koch, 16, of Abbeville, La., won two years ago in three sets.

"I expected it to be competitive," Koch said. "I didn't really play as aggressive as I should've, but he played really well."

Reid said his serve has improved.

"I've been taking a lot of lessons on my serve and volley, and that was a key thing in this match," he said. "They got me through, and luckily they prevailed in the end."

Tournament director Chips Stearns said he was impressed by Reid's development.

"Nobody a year ago would ever have thought he'd be where he is now," Stearns said.

Reid extinguished whatever momentum Koch had gathered in the second set with wins in the first three games of the third, but Koch recovered to cut Reid's lead to 3-2 and served to tie the match.

Reid broke back for a 4-2 lead, and Koch would get no closer.

"I normally dictate on serve, so that was a big part of losing that match," Koch said.

"I definitely fought really well this entire week, and that's what got me through that last set," Reid said. "I was so tired. A few days off will be nice."

Reid said he entered the Southern 16's with no particular expectation.

"I was playing well enough," he said. "I could rely on my serve, and it wouldn't give out on me."

Sports on 06/17/2018

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