Things are really beginning to look up again for Ryan Harrison. The twenty-four year-old American was once heralded as the star that would replace the likes of Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish at the top of the game. After a roaring start as a teen, his career fell away somewhat.
Now though, the American is well on track after winning the Dallas Challenger title with a 63 63 win over compatriot Taylor Fritz. Harrison broke Fritz four times from seven opportunities, and the nineteen year-old could only muster one break in response. The match lasted just over one hour and ten minutes.
Harrison did not drop a set in the tournament in defeating Eric Quigley, Mackenzie McDonald, Marco Trungelliti, Tatsuma Ito and Fritz. McDonald came the closest, having held set points in a second set tiebreak that Harrison eventually won twelve-ten.
Harrison will continue his move up the rankings, likely close to cutting in half his ranking from the start of 2016. He had started that year at no.134, but will add 92 ATP points after improving on his second round showing from last year. Fritz will secure his Top 100 ranking for another week at least, but is soon going to have to defend final points at Memphis Open, where he lost to Kei Nishikori last year.
2017 now marks the tenth year for Harrison as an active player. He turned pro in 2007 at the age of fifteen, and is one of just three players, along with Richard Gasquet and Rafael Nadal to have won a ATP level match before turning sixteen.
