APTOS, August 12, 2015
A full stadium of fans at the US-$ 100,000 Comerica Bank Challenger in Aptos was not disappointed on Tuesday evening in a match up that does not happen very often in the tennis world.
The only clue to the twenty-year age difference between Tommy Haas and Andrey Rublev was the two different game styles that comes naturally with the generation difference. In the end Haas proved his game hasn’t skipped a beat and defeated the prominent teen in straight sets, 6-4 6-3.
Haas at 37, has shaped his game over the years looking to idols like Boris Becker who value strategy that involves finesse and great patience. The German appeared timeless as he ran down the bullets coming off of 17 year-old Rublev’s Wilson racket.
Haas defeats Rublev in first round in Aptos (photo: Facebook Seascape Sports Club)
The young Russian’s power, intensity and placement may have not been enough to beat the former No. 2 in the world, but his performance still had fans wondering if he was really only 17 years old.
Competitive tennis did not take a break at Seascape today, revealing how deep the talent runs in the draw this year. First round winners today include No. 1 seed John Millman, local-favorite Taro Daniel, Young Swede Elias Ymer and U.S. Wild Card Challenge leader Bjorn Fratangelo.
Fratangelo said he prepared for his first round like he prepares for any other match. He came back against Marius Copil after losing the first set by just one service break.
Daniel’s family and friends, who are local to Aptos, came to show their support this afternoon as Daniel prevailed to beat Ze Zhang in straight sets after finding himself down 1-6 in the first set tie breaker.
Ymer said he came into Aptos feeling very fresh after taking two weeks to practice and train with Roger Federer. Ymer knew that he had to come out playing strong and on his toes to combat his opponent’s dense returns. He said he feels solid and it showed on court today with his 6-2, 6-2 win.
Wild card and top-ranked teenager, American Jared Donaldson will play in tomorrow’s feature match at 6 p.m. versus 8th seed Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan.
RESULTS – AUGUST 11, 2015
Men’s Singles – First Round
[1] J. Millman (AUS) d [Alt] A. Sarkissian (USA) 62 60
[2] M. Jaziri (TUN) d K. Khachanov (RUS) 63 61
[3] K. Edmund (GBR) d [LL] T. Niki (JPN) 61 62
[4] B. Fratangelo (USA) d M. Copil (ROU) 36 75 62
[5] T. Daniel (JPN) d [Q] Z. Zhang (CHN) 76(6) 62
[6] M. Ebden (AUS) d L. Broady (GBR) 76(4) 63
F. Dustov (UZB) d [Q] T. Sandgren (USA) 16 62 61
[Q] D. Nguyen (USA) d J. Zopp (EST) 64 64
[WC] T. Haas (GER) d A. Rublev (RUS) 64 63
E. Ymer (SWE) d Y. Bhambri (IND) 62 62
[Q] M. Zverev (GER) d [WC] T. Fritz (USA) 67(1) 75 63
G. Clezar (BRA) d S. Devvarman (IND) 62 16 63
