Harrison Downs Edmund
By: Becky Robinson, for BB&T Atlanta Open
American Ryan Harrison and Great Britain’s Kyle Edmund battled for the last finals spot, with Harrison finishing the victor at 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4. Tonight’s match marked the first time the two have ever faced off.
Under the Saturday night lights at the Stadium, the No. 5 seed Edmund secured the first set in a tight tiebreaker (7-5) against the tournament No. 4 seed, Harrison. Harrison fought back in the second set, taming Edmund’s ground stroke muscle while adjusting his serve to win the set at 6-3. In the third set, Harrison broke Edmund at 4-4 with a combination of good returns and some deft touch. Harrison, appearing extremely motivated and thirsty to lock in his entry to the finals, commands his serve and prevails at 6-4.
Harrison, age 25, is currently ranked No. 42 in singles and enjoying a strong year after winning his first ATP World Tour title at the Memphis Open, and more recently, snatched a doubles grand slam title with Michael Venus at Roland Garros.
Harrison and John Isner will go toe-to-toe on Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Stadium for the coveted finals’ trophy.
“Yeah that’s the way it always is playing John,” said Harrison. “He is very comfortable playing here. I am too. You know we played in the summer series last year in Toronto and it was a really close match. You know he serves great. I serve really well also. Our games are going to be ones that are dictated heavily with control with our service games. It is going to be really important for me not to get discouraged whenever he is hammering aces left and right. It is going to happen. I know it is going to happen. I am going to create as many opportunities as I can and make sure I hold my service games. You know if we happen to end up in a breaker, where have no chances the whole set I will be ready to play the breaker.”
An All-American final you don’t want to miss.
In the night session, the Bryan Brothers waltzed past John Millman and Sa. Ratiwatana 6-2, 6-3.