Ryan Harrison dismisses Yuichi Sugita in the opening round – Atlanta Tennis Championships 2011
Upcoming American player Ryan Harrison, ranked 120th in the world, prevailed over world number 171 Yuichi Sugita of Japan in straight sets 6-1, 7-6(5) in the first round at the Atlanta Tennis Championships in Atlanta
on Tuesday. The 19-year-old took one hour and 37 minutes to oust his opponent.
Harrison started the match strongly as he broke the Japanese in the second game of the first set and held his serve in the next game to take a 3-0 lead. Sugita held his serve in the fourth game to open his account and reduce the
deficit to 1-3. It was all Harrison show after that as he broke the Japanese again in the sixth game, sealing three consecutive games to win the set 6-1.
The American delivered 65 percent of the first serves and four aces in the opening set. Harrison won most of the points on his first serve, converting eleven of the thirteen first serves into points in the first set. The Florida
resident capitalised on both break point opportunities he created on Sugita’s serve in the opening set.
The Japanese and Harrison held their service games throughout the second set to equalise the score at 6-6 and force a tie-break. The American captured an early mini-break in the tie-break and capitalised on it to win the tie-break
7-5.
The teenager could not maintain his service performance, failing to hit any ace and committing three double faults in the second set. Harrison, however, kept winning points on his first serve. The American won an incredible 23
of the 26 first service points in the second set.
Harrison improved his win/loss record to 5-10 in this season. The American is having a breakthrough season this year. He started with winning a challenger tournament in Honolulu, beating compatriot Alex Kuznetsov in three sets
6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in the final. The right-handed upset Jeremy Chardy, Guillermo Garcia-Lopez and Milos Raonic in the first, second and third round respectively to reach his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 fourth round at the BNP Paribas Open. He eventually lost
to Swiss Maestro Roger Federer 6-7(4), 3-6 in the round of 16. Harrison lost to former world number 10 Arnaud Clement of France 4-6, 1-6 in the first round at the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport last week.
The American is drawn to play world number 40 Xavier Malisse of Belgium in the round of 16. The Belgian, seeded fourth at the event, received a bye in the first round.
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