Miami Herald Logo

Kozlov motivated by Orange Bowl International tennis void | Miami Herald

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Site Information
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Herald Store
    • RSS Feeds
    • Special Sections
    • Advertise
    • Advertise with Us
    • Media Kit
    • Mobile
    • Mobile Apps & eReaders
    • Newsletters
    • Social
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Google+
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    • Sections
    • News
    • South Florida
    • Miami-Dade
    • Broward
    • Florida Keys
    • Florida
    • Politics
    • Weird News
    • Weather
    • National & World
    • Colombia
    • National
    • World
    • Americas
    • Cuba
    • Guantánamo
    • Haiti
    • Venezuela
    • Local Issues
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • In Depth
    • Issues & Ideas
    • Traffic
    • Sections
    • Sports
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Pro & College
    • Miami Dolphins
    • Miami Heat
    • Miami Marlins
    • Florida Panthers
    • College Sports
    • University of Miami
    • Florida International
    • University of Florida
    • Florida State University
    • More Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Auto Racing
    • Fighting
    • Golf
    • Horse Racing
    • Outdoors
    • Soccer
    • Tennis
    • Youth Sports
    • Other Sports
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • The Florida Influencer Series
    • Sections
    • Business
    • Business Monday
    • Banking
    • International Business
    • National Business
    • Personal Finance
    • Real Estate News
    • Small Business
    • Technology
    • Tourism & Cruises
    • Workplace
    • Business Plan Challenge
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Cindy Krischer Goodman
    • The Starting Gate
    • Work/Life Balancing Act
    • Movers
    • Sections
    • Living
    • Advice
    • Fashion
    • Food & Drink
    • Health & Fitness
    • Home & Garden
    • Pets
    • Recipes
    • Travel
    • Wine
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Dave Barry
    • Ana Veciana-Suarez
    • Flashback Miami
    • More Living
    • LGBTQ South Florida
    • Palette Magazine
    • Indulge Magazine
    • South Florida Album
    • Broward Album
    • Sections
    • Entertainment
    • Books
    • Comics
    • Games & Puzzles
    • Horoscopes
    • Movies
    • Music & Nightlife
    • People
    • Performing Arts
    • Restaurants
    • TV
    • Visual Arts
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Jose Lambiet
    • Lesley Abravanel
    • More Entertainment
    • Events Calendar
    • Miami.com
    • Contests & Promotions
    • Sections
    • All Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Op-Ed
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Jim Morin
    • Letters to the Editor
    • From Our Inbox
    • Speak Up
    • Submit a Letter
    • Meet the Editorial Board
    • Influencers Opinion
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Blog Directory
    • Columnist Directory
    • Andres Oppenheimer
    • Carl Hiaasen
    • Leonard Pitts Jr.
    • Fabiola Santiago
    • Obituaries
    • Obituaries in the News
    • Place an Obituary

    • Place an ad
    • All Classifieds
    • Announcements
    • Apartments
    • Auctions/Sales
    • Automotive
    • Commercial Real Estate
    • Employment
    • Garage Sales
    • Legals
    • Merchandise
    • Obituaries
    • Pets
    • Public Notices
    • Real Estate
    • Services
  • Public Notices
  • Cars
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Real Estate
  • Mobile & Apps

  • el Nuevo Herald
  • Miami.com
  • Indulge

Tennis

Kozlov motivated by Orange Bowl International tennis void

By Michelle Kaufman

mkaufman@MiamiHerald.com

    ORDER REPRINT →

December 11, 2014 08:25 PM

Stefan Kozlov made history on the pro tennis circuit this year.

The 16-year-old from Pembroke Pines is ranked No.464, the youngest American to crack the Top 500 since Michael Chang in 1989. He was the youngest player ever to compete in the Valencia Open in Spain. He reached the final of the ATP Challenger in Sacramento by beating four higher-ranked players, becoming the third-youngest American to get to a final since Andre Agassi and Chang.

But when Kozlov looked back on his junior career, there was one title that eluded him. He intends to fix that. He has reached the final of the Orange Bowl International three times, including last year in the Boys 18s, but has never won it. That void is motivating him this week as he heads into the quarterfinals.

“I just felt like I came a little bit short last year and I felt really disappointed after the match, like I had it and it slipped out of my hands,’’ Kozlov, the No.2 seed, said Thursday after beating Emil Reinberg 6-2, 6-2.

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to the Miami Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

“It’s my home tournament. I’ve lost in the finals three times, so it would mean a lot to win it.’’

His father, Andrei, who runs the Kozlov Tennis Academy, is proud of his son for returning to the junior ranks to battle for the Orange Bowl championship.

“Some kids once they go pro they don’t want to come back and play juniors again, but Stefan is only 16, so young, so why not come back and try to win something that means so much to him?’’ Andrei Kozlov said. “Roger Federer was 18 when he won Orange Bowl. It’s OK to come back and play for junior titles when you are a teenager. Stefan has been traveling all over as a pro, and I don’t want him to get burned out, so this home tournament is good for him.’’

Kozlov said the 25-plus pro matches he has played have helped immensely.

“I’ve improved everything,’’ he said. “... I’m in better shape. I feel more confident.’’

Among the other boys who advanced Thursday were American Michael Mmoh, the No.5 seed; No.9 seed Alex Ryakov of Coral Springs; and 6-10 Reilly Opelka.

On the girls side, No.2 Cici Bellis reached the quarters after getting past American Maria Shishkina 7-6 (9-7), 6-1. If Bellis advances to the semis, she will finish the year No.1 in the world.

“She started out really strong and I started a little slow,’’ Bellis said. “When I came back, I started to play better.’’

The tournament continues through Sunday at the Frank Ventri Tennis Center in Plantation.

SOCCER

Lynn University’s Kirstie Schults was named a third-team All-South Region selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Schults led the Fighting Knights in goals and scoring in her final season.

  Comments  

Videos

Miami Open Tournament unveils its 2019 construction site

Are tennis balls yellow or green? Roger Federer's response doesn’t have fans pleased

View More Video

Trending Stories

Federal prosecutors broke law in Jeffrey Epstein case, judge rules

February 21, 2019 02:51 PM

It’s not so hard for an immigrant to become a U.S. citizen. Here’s what you have to do

February 20, 2019 01:20 PM

Think Florida is a ‘sinful’ place to live? You’re right, according to this new study

February 20, 2019 01:18 PM

Americans arrested in Haiti driving around with an arsenal are flown to the U.S.

February 20, 2019 06:54 PM

Americans arrested in Haiti with arsenal of guns won’t face U.S. charges

February 21, 2019 04:06 PM

Read Next

Here is a sneak peak at how Hard Rock Stadium will look for the Miami Open in March

Tennis

Here is a sneak peak at how Hard Rock Stadium will look for the Miami Open in March

By Jason Dill

    ORDER REPRINT →

January 31, 2019 03:31 PM

Miami Dolphins president Tom Garfinkel unveiled what the Miami Open will now look like when it moves to Hard Rock Stadium later this year in a video posted to social media.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to the Miami Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE TENNIS

This Bradenton resident gets treated like a rock star. He’s focused on tennis stardom

Tennis

This Bradenton resident gets treated like a rock star. He’s focused on tennis stardom

January 11, 2019 12:56 PM
Here is how the Miami Open’s move to Hard Rock Stadium has affected ticket sales

Tennis

Here is how the Miami Open’s move to Hard Rock Stadium has affected ticket sales

December 14, 2018 01:44 PM
Hundred of the best 35-to-45-year-old tennis players will compete in this event

Tennis

Hundred of the best 35-to-45-year-old tennis players will compete in this event

October 19, 2018 05:15 PM
Next year’s Miami Open tennis tournament secures long-term sponsorship

Tennis

Next year’s Miami Open tennis tournament secures long-term sponsorship

September 07, 2018 01:54 PM
Florida man stole IDs of a Miami Dolphin, a tennis pro and a Backstreet Boy, cops say

Florida

Florida man stole IDs of a Miami Dolphin, a tennis pro and a Backstreet Boy, cops say

July 24, 2018 07:22 PM
South Florida's Sloane Stephens upset in first round at Wimbledon

Tennis

South Florida's Sloane Stephens upset in first round at Wimbledon

July 02, 2018 10:51 AM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Miami Herald App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Public Insight Network
  • Reader Panel
Advertising
  • Place a Classified
  • Media Kit
  • Commercial Printing
  • Public Notices
Copyright
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story