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Emil Ruusuvuori ATP US Open 2021
ATP Tennis Players, Tennis News

WATCH: Emil Ruusuvuori pulls off outrageous tweener lob in ATP Sofia Open


The Finn pulled off some brilliant flair in his first round match against James Duckworth at the ATP 250 event in Bulgaria.

Having secured the first set 6-3, Ruusuvuori opened the second set on his serve.

A net cord brought the young gun forward on a short Duckworth shot, before the Aussie hit a lob volley over the Finn, setting him up for a perfect winner from a most improbable position.

Unfortunately for the 22-year-old, it was all downhill from there. Duckworth proceeded to oust Ruusuvuori 6-4, 6-4 in the remaining two sets.

The Finn could not believe he had thrown the match., smashing his racket in frustration following the final point.

“It was very tricky,” Duckworth said following his victory. “I’ve played quite a few matches the last couple of weeks.

“I pretty much came out in the first set and my attitude absolutely sucked. I was able to regroup and just fight as hard as I could in that second set.”

Duckworth came into the tournament off the back of his first ever ATP final in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.

The 29-year-old lost that match to fellow first-time finalist Kwon Soon-woo of South Korea. Nevertheless, Duckworth sits at a career-high ranking of 56 in the world.

“I was able to turn myself around mentally and bring some better energy for the second half of the match.

“I knew it was going to be very difficult…but just happy to be through.”

The Australian will next face world number 49 Benoit Pair after the maverick Frenchman defeated seventh seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the first round.


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