First ATP World Tour Tennis Win for Young South African Lloyd Harris

South African qualifier Lloyd Harris has notched up his first match win on the ATP World Tour by beating fifth-seeded Gael Monfils of France at the $1.8-million Chengdu Open in China!

The Youth Olympian – who is 21-years-old – won 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 in 88 minutes of action at the Sichuan International Tennis Centre.

Harris won 82 points, had an impressive 83% winning percentage on second serves and won six break points compared to Monfils’ three throughout the match.

Now ranked 129th, his highest ever world ranking, the Cape Town player will face Australian qualifier Bernard Tomic.

Last week, Monfils, a former world No 6, captured his sixth ATP Challenger Tour title in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Monfils started the season by winning his seventh ATP World title in Doha.

Harris, who is coming off his best season on the tour since turning professional in 2015, qualified for his first Grand Slam, the US Open last month where he lost to Gilles Simon of France in the opening round. Leading up to the US Open, Harris captured his maiden challenger trophy in Kentucky, USA.

‘I have to say I’m very pleased with today’s performance. Honestly, coming up against one of the best players in the game and biggest showmen in tennis, I knew Gael was going to be a big challenge and I knew what a great player he was,’ said Harris after his match.

‘I felt like I really stepped my game up today, especially from the late part of the second set, I lifted my game, started playing very fast, hitting tremendously big ground strokes, serving well and obviously converting on those very important break points.

‘I feel today was a special day for me, winning my first main draw match on the ATP World Tour, that was really something of a great moment for me, I enjoyed the atmosphere out on court and so far, the tournament is going excellent and I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s match,’ added Harris.