The kids are coming: Ymer, Rublev make headlines in Barcelona
By Ricky Dimon
It was the less heralded youngster who won a battle of 19-year-olds on Wednesday at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell. Nick Kyrgios had two match points–one in both the second and third sets–but Elias Ymer battled to a 2-6, 7-5, 7-6(7) second-round upset after two hours and 27 minutes.
Ymer was one point away from a straight-set defeat as he served at 2-6, 4-5, 30-40 in the second. The world No. 192 also trailed 4-1 in the third set and 6-5 in the decisive tiebreaker but managed to come up with the goods in every pressure situation.
“Playing Nick is always going to be so tough,” Ymer assured. “He’s the one who showed us it’s possible to play against the big guys. He inspired me a lot when he reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals last year. I know him well; in juniors we played together all the time.
“It’s the first time I’ve won two matches on the ATP World Tour (at the same tournament). I just kept competing. He went to the toilet when I was 4-1 down and it broke his momentum.”
Ymer is a Swede respected for his incredible speed around the court. He has already doubled his previous career total of ATP match wins (two) in Barcelona, as he fought past Thiemo De Bakker 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-4 on Monday.
Fellow teenager Andrey Rublev bowed out of the event on Wednesday, but not before stunning Fernando Verdasco 7-6(4), 6-3. It was the 17-year-old Russian’s third victory in the main draw of an ATP tournament this season (and third of his career).
“I’m really happy to win against one of the best players on the tour,” said Rublev. “It’s amazing. I don’t even know what to say; I’m just so happy. I tried not to think and just keep showing my best every point. I had nothing to lose.”
The qualifier lost to Fabio Fognini in three sets on Wednesday. Ymer, meanwhile, moves on to face David Ferrer in the third round.
Topics: Andrey Rublev, Atp, Barcelona Open, Elias Ymer, Nick Kyrgios, Ricky Dimon, Tennis
-@Dimonator REPORTS THE KIDS ARE COMING: @eliasymer, @AndreyRublev97 MAKE HEADLINES IN #BARCELONA- http://t.co/nBMMHmpI8b #ATPBarcelona