Former Flame, Almeida, Achieves Incredible Title Run at Mardy Fish, ITF Vero Beach
5/11/2026 2:46:00 PM | Men's Tennis
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Former Liberty men's tennis athlete, Joaquim De Almeida, secured a historic and implausible championship run at the Mardy Fish Children's Foundation, ITF 15K Vero Beach, Calif., tournament, beginning the tournament as the 28th alternate and after battling through seven matches, facing eight match points, to exit as the tournament champion.
"This might be the story of the year in professional tennis and probably the greatest story ever in the history of the ITF World Tennis Tour, the minor leagues of pro tennis,'' tournament director Randy Walker said.
Without owning an ATP or secondary ITF ranking due to inactivity playing college tennis in 2025, the Former Flame was entered into the 32-player qualifying bracket, needing two wins to advance to the main draw. He breezed past No. 15 seed, Ying Hou (Great Britain) 6-0, 6-0 in the first round and fought off two match points, narrowly edged Kian Vakili (USA)) 6-4, 2-6 (13-11) to earn a spot in the main draw.
Almeida drew No. 7 seed and No. 647 Strong Kirchheimer (USA) in the first round, battling through four match points and triple match point, coming back to oust his foe 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (5). The next day, the Brazilian took on Matthew Segura (USA), topping the nephew of Hall of Famer, Pancho Segura, again coming back for a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 triumph.
In the quarterfinal, Almeida was tasked with the challenge of No. 39 JJ Wolf, who was playing in his fifth tournament of a comeback season. With over 300 fans in attendance, Almeida seemed out matched early, dropping the first eight games of the contest. After pushing through a number of long rallies, Almeida faced a 6-5 deficit in the second set. He managed to fight off a match point to force a tiebreak where he battled through another match point to take the set 7-6 (7). Wolf called for a trainer following the set, ultimately being forced to retire to advance Almeida to the semifinals with an 0-6, 7-6 (7), 1-0 score.
After the match, Almeida told reporters, "I had opportunities. I was a little scared playing JJ, someone who I've seen on TV many times. I was a little anxious to play him. It was close, and then I missed some shots because of anxiety that I was playing this guy, but then as soon as I got in the match."
Almeida added, "I saw I had an opportunity. I kind of started to believe more and that's what kind of happened."
In the penultimate match, the former Flame handled No. 459 Quinn Vandecasteele (USA) 6-4, 6-2 to reach the final.
Almeida concluded one of the most improbable runs to a pro tennis tournament title facing a 1-3 deficit in the third set against No. 322 Alex Rybakov. The Brazilian wavered in the second set, dropping 9-of-11 games to ultimately trail in the third.
In the middle of his poor stretch, he received encouragement from a fan, calling out to Almeida, 'Remember who got you here or how did you get here?' At that point, he told himself, 'That's true. It's not me. I'm not playing. It's God that lives inside of me.' He then rattled off five consecutive games to claim the once far-fetched title, falling to the ground in pure elation and bliss.
Almeida spent his senior season at Liberty, playing at the top of the singles and doubles lineup in the 2025 season. The senior was named to the 2025 CUSA All-Conference Singles and Doubles team (Siwanat Auytayakul) with a 9-10 singles mark at the top of the lineup and a 12-4 doubles record.
O ????JOAQUIM ALMEIDA é um tenista do Pará que foi jogar tênis universitário nos EUA.
— Info Tênis Brasil ?? (@InfoTenisBrasil) May 11, 2026
Não tinha ranking. Se inscreveu para jogar o M15 de Vero Beach, na Flórida. Era o 28º(!) alternate do Qualy. Acabou entrando.
Furou o Qualy. Venceu cabeças de chave. Venceu o ex-top 40, ????JJ… pic.twitter.com/OFIer2NIUL
"This might be the story of the year in professional tennis and probably the greatest story ever in the history of the ITF World Tennis Tour, the minor leagues of pro tennis,'' tournament director Randy Walker said.
Without owning an ATP or secondary ITF ranking due to inactivity playing college tennis in 2025, the Former Flame was entered into the 32-player qualifying bracket, needing two wins to advance to the main draw. He breezed past No. 15 seed, Ying Hou (Great Britain) 6-0, 6-0 in the first round and fought off two match points, narrowly edged Kian Vakili (USA)) 6-4, 2-6 (13-11) to earn a spot in the main draw.
Almeida drew No. 7 seed and No. 647 Strong Kirchheimer (USA) in the first round, battling through four match points and triple match point, coming back to oust his foe 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (5). The next day, the Brazilian took on Matthew Segura (USA), topping the nephew of Hall of Famer, Pancho Segura, again coming back for a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 triumph.
In the quarterfinal, Almeida was tasked with the challenge of No. 39 JJ Wolf, who was playing in his fifth tournament of a comeback season. With over 300 fans in attendance, Almeida seemed out matched early, dropping the first eight games of the contest. After pushing through a number of long rallies, Almeida faced a 6-5 deficit in the second set. He managed to fight off a match point to force a tiebreak where he battled through another match point to take the set 7-6 (7). Wolf called for a trainer following the set, ultimately being forced to retire to advance Almeida to the semifinals with an 0-6, 7-6 (7), 1-0 score.
After the match, Almeida told reporters, "I had opportunities. I was a little scared playing JJ, someone who I've seen on TV many times. I was a little anxious to play him. It was close, and then I missed some shots because of anxiety that I was playing this guy, but then as soon as I got in the match."
Almeida added, "I saw I had an opportunity. I kind of started to believe more and that's what kind of happened."
In the penultimate match, the former Flame handled No. 459 Quinn Vandecasteele (USA) 6-4, 6-2 to reach the final.
Almeida concluded one of the most improbable runs to a pro tennis tournament title facing a 1-3 deficit in the third set against No. 322 Alex Rybakov. The Brazilian wavered in the second set, dropping 9-of-11 games to ultimately trail in the third.
In the middle of his poor stretch, he received encouragement from a fan, calling out to Almeida, 'Remember who got you here or how did you get here?' At that point, he told himself, 'That's true. It's not me. I'm not playing. It's God that lives inside of me.' He then rattled off five consecutive games to claim the once far-fetched title, falling to the ground in pure elation and bliss.
Almeida spent his senior season at Liberty, playing at the top of the singles and doubles lineup in the 2025 season. The senior was named to the 2025 CUSA All-Conference Singles and Doubles team (Siwanat Auytayakul) with a 9-10 singles mark at the top of the lineup and a 12-4 doubles record.
Players Mentioned
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