ENGLEWOOD — Roman Borvanov vaguely remembers learning tennis as a child in the former Soviet Union. He holds better memories of coming to the United States nine years ago when, in his words, “my mother won the green card lottery.”
The 27-year-old tennis pro just can’t remember a bigger single payday than the $8,000 he earned Sunday in the second Safeway Foundation Men’s Open Tennis Tournament at the Colorado Athletic Club Inverness. The No. 3 seed outlasted former NCAA doubles champ Brian Wilson 3-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3).
“That was an incredible match,” Borvanov told the crowd of a few hundred. “This is by far my biggest check.”
He said his mother’s green card chances were enhanced by a “diversity visa.” Although he recalled the tennis system being free of charge, tough times in the 1990s left him overjoyed to follow his family. After immigrating to the U.S., he quickly learned English and played for the University of Portland before turning pro.
His highest ranking was 343rd on the tour, but he favors money tournaments such as the Safeway Open over the points system.
He speaks with barely an accent and asked for the microphone a second time to explain to the crowd that the “Moldova” on his jersey was a Davis Cup souvenir.
Several times, Borvanov appeared ready to take the $4,000 runner-up prize in the $25,000 tournament, the biggest in Colorado. But down a set and a break in the second set, he won the next two games and was on his way to winning the tournament.
“There was a little momentum shift, and I didn’t serve as well,” Wilson said. “He returned a lot better and put pressure on me.”
Borvanov consistently served better and won the majority of the long rallies.
After the two-hour-plus singles event, an exhausted Wilson and partner Marcus Sarstrand fell to Luke and Clancy Shields 6-3, 7-6 in the doubles title match.
Wilson, who won the 2003 NCAA doubles crown at Illinois, said he doesn’t play as much competitively these days, focusing on a junior academy he runs in Las Vegas. He also works for a nutrition company.
The tournament runner-up engaged the crowd with frequent banter and nearly nonstop sound effects with every point. He double faulted twice in the final tiebreaker as the match got away from him.
Safeway Foundation officials hope to get the event sanctioned next year on the pro tennis tour. Borvanov said he can’t wait to come back.
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
