By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday August 1, 2023
He entered 2023 with just one Top 20 win to his name – and that one came all the way back in 2018. But something has clicked for Michael Mmoh in 2023. The American saved a trio of match points on Tuesday to earn his third Top 20 triumph of the year, 6-3, 6-7(4), 7-6(4) over fourth-seeded (17th-ranked) Hubert Hurkacz in two hours and 57 minutes at the Citi Open.
Mmoh, who defeated 13th-ranked Alexander Zverev at the Australian Open in a run to the third round, also took out 12th-ranked Felix Auger-Aliassime to reach the second round at Wimbledon.
On Tuesday he was the consummate pro as he battled ferociously to keep hard-hitting Hurkacz in check, then saved three match points with regal composure late in the third set before closing out his victory in a third-set breaker.
After the win he was asked where today’s win stacked up against his other big wins this season.
“It's tough to choose,” he said with a grin. “You know, they're all, like, every win is almost like one of your children in a way.”
Mmoh said the day was made even more special because it came on home soil. The 25-year-old is a longtime fan of the D.C. sports scene, as his father, former ATP pro Tony Mmoh, used to live in Maryland.
“This one is definitely pretty special because it was on home soil,” Mmoh said. “My dad actually used to live out here in Maryland, and I'm actually an all-D.C. fan. I support the Commanders, I support the Wizards. So to get one here in a place I like – I call it second home in a way, it's pretty cool.”
A match point maven?
Mmoh was bold and assertive saving his three match points at 4-5 in the final set, and as it turns out the American has had some experience winning matches in which his back has been against the wall of late.
“It's been happening quite a bit, actually,” Mmoh said of coming back from match point down. “My Wimbledon first-round quallies, I was down two match points or maybe three. I obviously ended up getting into main draw and beating Felix [Auger-Aliassime]. None of that would have happened if I would have lost first round of quallies.
Mmoh said that he was down match points last week in Atlanta, against Tennys Sandgren.
“Just last week I was playing Tennys Sandgren in Atlanta. I was down two match points as well and won that. Seems to be a little bit of a theme. Hopefully that continues, but at the same time hopefully I don't put myself in those positions that I have to squeeze out those types of matches.”
Mmoh will look to continue his magic against either JJ Wolf or Radu Albot in the round of 16 on Thursday in D.C.