(The Southern African Times) – South African Lloyd Harris rose 29 places in the ATP Rankings from 81st place up to a career-high ranking 52nd place following his historic run to the final of the Dubai Tennis Championship.
That run saw him defeat U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem, former top five-ranked player Kei Nishikori and rising Canadian star Denis Shapovalov, and become the first qualifier to reach the tournament’s final.
He, however, agonizingly fell short of claiming his maiden Tour-level title after he lost to Aslan Karatsev in straight sets (6-3, 6-2) in the final.
It was the 24-year-old’s second ATP Tour final appearance after his first at the Adelaide International in January last year where he also lost in straight sets to another Russian, Andrey Rublev.
It makes him the highest ranked African player in the ATP with his compatriot and two-time Grand Slam finalist Kevin Anderson behind him in second in 91st place in the world.
According to the ATP, Harris has jumped 38 places since the start of 2021. He is expected to take part in the ATP Masters 1000 event in Miami this week.
“I’m going to take all the big ups from this week, move forward and take it into the next tournament,” Harris said after the final in Dubai.
