Staff Reporter.
Photo Credit: Lloyd Harris.
South African top tennis ace Lloyd Harris recorded the biggest win of his career at the Qatar Open on Tuesday night in Doha.
The 24-year-old qualifier withstood the power of Stan Wawrinka, the seventh seed and world number 20, in a 7-6(3), 6-7(6), 7-5 victory over two hours and 41 minutes for a place in the second round of the ATP 250 event.
Despite the heavy-handed serve from the Swiss former world No.3 Wawrinka, Harris moved on after he saved seven of the eight break points he faced in the match.
“I don’t have many words right now,” Harris told the ATP Tour.
“Stan was my idol growing up, so just to play against him was incredible. I was as determined as I could be, really pumped to play. I am proud of how I fought back after losing the second set. I feel like I’ve done really well in the past couple of months and I hope to keep the momentum going.”
Wawrinka recovered from 2/4 down in the second-set tie-break, finishing with a forehand approach and two backhand volleys to carry the momentum into the decider. But Harris came within two points of a 3-0 lead in the third set, before Wawrinka clawed his way back – only to be broken in the 11th game. The Capetonian closed out to love, finishing with his 11th ace.
Harris will next face world No. 46 Marton Fucsovics of Hungary. Fucsovics defeated Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic 7-6(3), 6-3 in one hour and 44 minutes.