Haskins comes up short in bid for first professional win | Boys Tennis

Then, out of nowhere, his shoulder starting hurting – badly.

Haskins, the most dominating player in the history of Missouri high school tennis, simply could not overcome the injury.

Geller, a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, charged back to post a 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 win the first round of the six-day, 96-player tournament.

Haskins, who is headed to the University of Indiana in a couple of weeks, looked poised to break into the win column in only his third professional match. He lost in the doubles portion of the tournament on Tuesday and also fell to eventual winner Tennys Sandgren, 6-4, 6-3 in the opening round of the Edwardsville Futures Tournament in 2016.

But a re-occurrence of an old injury spelled the end. 

“It was tough for me to serve or hit a forehand,” Haskins said. “The only thing I could do was lob balls back.”

A four-time state high school champion, Haskins went 94-0 in his four years at Parkway South winning all 188 sets.

He is using the United States Tennis Association Pro Circuit Tournament as a tuneup for college.

“This is a great experience for me,” Haskins said. “Being able to play in the main draw is awesome.”

Haskins won four of the last five games to take the opening set. He battled back from a love-40 deficit to capture the eighth game and tie the match 4-4 using a nifty lob to flummox Geller for the final point.

Haskins then closed out the set with a wicked backhand winner.

“I think I got a little more of a rhythm on my serve,” Haskins said. “I picked up my energy.”

Haskins said his shoulder began to tighten up early in the second set. He has a condition called Tendinopathy, but the ailment had not bothered him recently.

“I basically have no idea how it happen,” Haskins said. “Maybe I hit a shot wrong.”

Haskins called for medial timeout trailing 5-1 in the second set. A rubdown from the trainer did not help.

Geller, 19, won seven of the final eight games to close out the 1 hour, 51 minute match.

“I’ll have more opportunities in the future,” Haskins said. “This isn’t the last one.”