MONTREAL | Mother Nature made it difficult for just about everyone at the National Bank Open on Monday at IGA Stadium, but she didn’t prevent Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori from signing his first career victory at this tournament.
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The 44th ATP player and ex-fourth-ranked player in the world in juniors defeated veteran Stan Wawrinka in three sets of 6-3, 3-6 and 6-3 in a first-round duel that took off with about four hours late.
Also, the youth got the better of the experience, even if the Swiss was not really turning 37 on center court. Tenacious, the one who underwent operations on the left knee in 2017 and on the left foot four years later subjected his vis-à-vis to certain long exchanges. Thus, he notably created a 3-3 tie in the second set with a break on his fourth chance to seize the opposing service. He also pocketed four consecutive games to bring about the decisive set.
However, the 23-year-old winner’s determination finally paid off in the final set when he capitalized on his opponent’s back-to-back unforced errors to break on his fourth straight opportunity and take a 4-2 lead. The author of a 25th win this season finished the job in the last game, not without having to save a break point. A forehand cross allowed him to settle the file of the former holder of the third level of the world circuit and current 322nd in 2 h 10 min.
In the second round, Ruusuvuori will have a formidable rival: the Pole Hubert Hurkacz, eighth seed.
little action
Fans hoping to see the Briton Andy Murray at work on the central during the day were certainly disappointed, his duel against the American Taylor Fritz being postponed to the next day. The former ATP number 1 has obtained an invitation from the organizers and will have a lot to do against the 10th seed, who has already won two titles this season.
A few matches were also played on the secondary courts at the end of the afternoon. Slovak Alex Molcan, 42nd in the world, defeated Californian Mackenzie McDonald (72nd) in two sets of 7-6 (1) and 6-4.
For his part, the former eighth racket in the world Karen Khachanov, now 28th, worked hard before beating the Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo (27th). The Russian needed 2 h 43 min to win in three sets of 7-6 (4), 5-7 and 6-3.
As for him, the extravagant Kazakh Alexander Bublik (41st) packed up prematurely at Jarry Park. He bowed the spine against the American Jenson Brooksby (46th) in two sets of 6-2 and 6-3.
In doubles, Hurkacz and compatriot Jan Zielinski upset sixth seeded Germany’s Tim Puetz and New Zealand’s Michael Venus 6-3, 7-6(4) in what was the first officially completed main draw clash. at the National Bank Open in Montreal this year.