BAPTIST HEALTH BOLO BASH

Jung fends off high-strong foe

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/RICK MCFARLAND --04/19/15--  Jason Jung, of California, hits a backhand shot during his finals match with  Darian King, of Barbados, in the USTA Pro Circuit Men's Futures Tournament at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Little Rock Sunday.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/RICK MCFARLAND --04/19/15-- Jason Jung, of California, hits a backhand shot during his finals match with Darian King, of Barbados, in the USTA Pro Circuit Men's Futures Tournament at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Little Rock Sunday.

Jason Jung kept his composure Sunday afternoon in the Baptist Health Bolo Bash final and won his first title in two years.

Jung, the No. 3 seed, defeated No. 4 seed Darian King 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in the final of the United States Tennis Association Pro Circuit tournament at Pleasant Valley Country Club.

It was the fourth professional title for Jung, of Torrance, Calif., who entered the tournament ranked No. 291 in the ATP singles rankings. Jung last won a tournament at the USTA Pro Circuit Futures event in Edwardsville, Ill., in 2013.

"I've been working hard," said Jung, 25, who played collegiately at Michigan before turning pro. "The hard work is coming along. I just have to keep pushing."

Jung had not lost a set in the tournament before Sunday. He beat Alexios Halebian 6-2, 6-3 in the first round and Eric Quigley 6-4, 7-5 in the semifinals. Despite losing the second set Sunday, Jung, 25, rebounded to win the match against King, 22, of Barbados.

"It was key that I won the first set. I was in good position. But it was tough. This week I've been playing good. I played a tougher opponent today. It came down to a few points at the end."

King, 22, ranked No. 294 in the world, was complimentary of Jung.

"Jason is a very solid player," King said. "He went to college for four years, so he understands the heart and fight it takes to win a match. I came out unlucky today, but Jason is a solid player."

The first set was tied at 3-3 before Jung won the last three points to take the set 6-3.

King led the second set 2-0 when he received a delay-of-game warning for arguing a point. He shook it off and took a 3-0 lead before Jung came back to tie the set at 3-3. The two traded points, but King went on to win the second set 6-4.

Emotions caught up to King in the third set.

It was 1-1 when King argued about a point with the chair umpire.

"Do not do that, dude," King yelled at the umpire. "I get so pissed at these refs."

Jung led 3-1, but King pulled within 3-2 as Jung called an injury timeout because of a sore groin, which he originally hurt during a semifinal match Saturday against Dane Propoggia.

Jung shook off his injury, winning the next two points to take a 5-2 lead. Then, King received a violation from the umpire for hitting the ball out of the court area.

King served a love game to cut the lead to 5-4, but Jung was too much to handle for the Barbados native, as Jung closed out the match, 6-4.

Afterward, King said he needs to work on his attitude on the court.

"My emotions got the better of me," King said. "It's something I'm trying to work on, but it takes time. I'm going to keep playing. The more matches I play, the better I'll become."

Jung said King made him work Sunday, which was the warmest day of the tournament.

"He doesn't miss. He's fast," Jung said. "I came out on a few points, but he played well."

In the doubles final earlier Sunday, Keith-Patrick Crowley of South Africa and Hans Hach of Mexico beat Americans Eric Quigley and Matt Seeburger 6-3, 1-6, 10-7.

Sports on 04/20/2015

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