By: Ben Raby (www.twitter.com/benraby31)
Emil Ruusuvuori scored the first win over a seeded player in the Citi Open men’s draw, as he beat No.2 Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 7-6(3) in the opening match Wednesday on Stadium Court.
Ruusuvuori saved all four break points he faced against the World No.11, punching his ticket into the Round-of-16 after an hour and 44 minutes in the heat and humidity.
“I just tried to hang in there and tried to stay as tough as I can,” Ruusuvuori said in his post-match on-court interview. “Long rallies, they really drain you and start to feel dizzy during the points, so it was very tough. But it’s a part of the game during period of the year.”
Ruusuvuori, 23, will next face Mikael Ymer of Sweden in the third round. Ymer followed his win over former World No.1 Andy Murray on Monday with another three-set triumph. Ymer held off No.15 seed Aslan Karatsev 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
YOUTH IS SERVED:
No.9 seed and #NextGenATP star Hulger Rune is the youngest player in the men’s field and the 19-year-old is looking for history to repeat itself this week in DC.
A year ago, a then-19-year-old Jannik Sinner was the youngest player in the men’s field, and he ultimately left town as the third youngest champion in the tournament’s 52-year history.
Rune is looking to make it back-to-back teenage champs and the World No.28 took the first step Wednesday as he cruised past Tour veteran Benoit Paire of France 6-3, 6-2 in the opening match on the Grandstand.
The Danish No.1 is up to No.4 in the Race to Milan standings and will next face No.6 seed Denis Shapovalov or American wild card J.J. Wolf in the Round-of-16.