Rusuvuori will meet Tallon Griekspoor from Holland in the semifinals of the Dutch ATP250 tournament.
in Finnish tennis Emil Ruusuvuori pulled off one of the toughest wins of his career on Friday when he knocked off world number nine Italy Jannik Sinner 6–3, 6–4.
The tournament’s second-ranked Sinner had won the duo’s previous meetings on the ATP tour 5–0. Rusuvuori had managed to win only one set in these games.
Now the players met for the first time on grass, which is a good platform for Sinner. The Italian was tormented in the quarterfinals of last year’s Wimbledon Novak Djokovicwho finally beat Sinner exactly 3–2.
– It’s great for Jannik to win for the first time at the ATP level. He is always a really bad opponent and a good player in every way, who can be at his best in tight spots, Ruusuvuori said.
Rusuvuori broke his opponent’s pass once in both sets. The Finn’s own serving game went well, and he won all 29 points that started with his first serve.
– Damn good match as a whole. I got off to a great start and looked like I was on top of the game. I was aggressive and I passed really well, especially at the beginning. I fought from every point and got him in trouble. Everything worked perfectly game-wise, and the head as well. You can continue until tomorrow with a really good feeling, Ruusuvuori said in the press release of the tennis association.
Rusuvuori will face Holland in Saturday’s semi-final Tallon’s Griekspoor (ATP-38), who defeated Australia in their own quarter-final by Alex de Minaur lot 2–1.
– We haven’t had time to make tactics for the semi-final yet. It will be done tomorrow. He plays on his home field and the crowd is on his side, but that’s what we’re used to here. Let’s go wreak the same kind of destruction as we did today.
In a possible final match, the opposition would be easier than the semi-final. In the second semi-final they will face Australia Jordan Thompson (ATP-103) and Rinky Hijikata (ATP-133).
Ruusuvuori has advanced to the final match of the ATP tournament once in his career: in India in 2022.
Updated at 8:24 p.m.: Added Ruusuvuori’s comments.