Baughman Claims Third Title in Claremont

CLAREMONT, Calif. -- 19-year old American Deiton Baughman won his second ITF Futures titles on American soil and third title this year with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over fellow American Mackenzie McDonald on Sunday morning at the Claremont Tennis Club

With the win, Baughman is now 33-16 in futures events this year, collecting 106 ranking points so far in 2015, which almost guarantees a year-end spot in the top 400 in the world. McDonald was playing in his first career final of a professional event and will move up nearly 100 spots in the rankings from his current ranking of 816.

Baughman dropped a set for the first time in the tournament as McDonald broke in the opening game and added an insurance break later for a 5-1 lead. Baughman forced the UCLA No. 1 to serve out the opening set and he did for the early advantage.

Mackenzie McDonald of @uclatennis holds and takes the first set 6-2 against Deiton Baughman at the Claremont final. pic.twitter.com/tPXZFKkdxN

— Jared Pine (@JaredPine) September 20, 2015

Early breaks determined the next two sets as well as Baughman broke McDonald and took a 3-0 lead in response to dropping his first set of the tournament. However, McDonald got the break back to make the score 6-2, 3-4, but the 20-year old American gave it right back and Baughman held the next game to even the final.

Deiton Baughman takes the second set 6-3 against Mackenzie McDonald and we are going to a third set. pic.twitter.com/ynXYL2Qs9c

— Jared Pine (@JaredPine) September 20, 2015

McDonald double faulted on his first two points in the third set, which proved costly as Baughman took advantage with a return winner on break point for a lead that never went away. The native of Carson, Calif. held serve four consecutive times and then broke serve again to claim the title.

Deiton Baughman defeats Mackenzie McDonald in the Claremont final 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 for his third title of the year. pic.twitter.com/5pW8H0s5an

— Jared Pine (@JaredPine) September 20, 2015

McDonald will next play in the futures event in Costa Mesa, Calif. Baughman meanwhile is not currently in the acceptance lists for the other two futures events in California in September. Former UCLA No. 1 Dennis Novikov also was in an all-American final today, where he defeated Ryan Harrison in Cary for his first career ATP Challenger title.