KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tournament veteran Mitchell Krueger beat 18-year-old up-and-comer Darwin Blanch in three sets Sunday afternoon to win the Knoxville Challenger singles tennis title.

Krueger, who also had played but lost the doubles final with partner Jody Maginley, lost the first set 6-7, (2-7), but went on to win the next two sets 6-4, 6-1, at the Goodfriend Tennis Center.

Both Krueger and Blanch at times delivered booming serves. Blanch rocketed first serves into the low 130s, one of several reasons why he's often compared to fellow American and ATP World No 6 Ben Shelton, a Knoxville Challenger title holder himself.

The USTA pro-circuit weeklong tournament has for more than a decade benefited the McNabb Center. This year proved especially successful, McNabb CEO Mona Blanton-Kitts s

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