By Erik Gudris | Sunday, February 18, 2017
Ryan Harrison continued his recent win streak with a straight set result in Memphis to reach his first ever career ATP final.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Ryan Harrison posted yet another match win, but this time with even more significance, as he advanced into his first ever career ATP final at the Memphis Open.
Harrison defeated Donald Young in an all-American semifinal 6-4, 6-4 after losing his last seven career ATP semifinals.
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"It's all surreal right now. I'm just really happy,” Harrison said right after the win.
With the Memphis Open seeing all of its seeds lose early, that gave both unseeded Harrison and Young a huge opportunity at the ATP 250 event. Young entered the match having upset No. 2 seed John Isner.
Both players were evenly matched until midway through the opening set. Harrison, holding the first break point of the match, converted when Young netted a backhand.
The 24-year-old Harrison then fought off a break point against him in the next game before edging ahead later for 5-3.
On set point, Harrison showed off solid defensive skills to earn him the set 6-4.
Harrison, who has jumped over 100 rankings points since last July, took control early in the second set. Young struck a forehand long handing Harrison the early advantage.
Young, despite playing well himself, often look frustrated at not being able to alter the match momentum. Young often seemed to overhit shots or go for winners too early that resulted in errors.
Harrison capitalized and soon enjoyed a double break lead that allowed him to serve for the final up 5-2.
However, Young would not let Harrison cruise to victory. Young, with several huge forehand winners, fought off four match points against him and later forced Harrison to serve for the match again at 5-4.
This time Harrison would not let his opportunity slip. On his fifth match point, Harrison struck his fifth ace of the match to secure the 6-4, 6-4 win.
By reaching the Memphis final, Harrison extends his recent match win streak to nine wins overall. That includes taking the Dallas Challenger title last week.
The earlier semifinal also allowed another unseeded player on a hot streak of his own the opportunity to go after his first ever ATP title.
Nikoloz Basilashvili faced off against Mikhail Kukushkin in the second semifinal. After a tense opening set, Basilashvili closed it out in a tiebreak 7-6(5).
Basilashvili went on to break his opponent twice in the second set before closing out the match 7-6(5), 6-1.
The 24-year-old Basilashvili from Georgia, who reached the semifinals in Sofia last week, has not dropped a set in Memphis so far as he now aims to win his first ever ATP title.
“The more matches you play, the more you get used to playing in these important moments,” Basilashvili told ATP.com “I have really good energy at the moment and am enjoying being on the court, so I hope to keep this level going.”