San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
S.D. DEBUT ‘HUGE SUCCESS’
Top-seeded Rublev upset in semis of well-attended event
On the eve of the San Diego Open finals, tournament director Ryan Redondo already knew one winner.
That would be the ATP 250 tourney itself, the first of its kind in San Diego. It was organized in six weeks instead of the typical year, due to tour schedule changes because of the pandemic.
“It’s a miracle, a huge success,” Redondo said Saturday at Barnes Tennis Center, the tourney site, where he’s been the general manager since last year.
There was also top semifinal drama.
Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie upset top-seeded and fifth-ranked Andrey Rublev, of Russia, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the title match of the $600,000 tourney at 4 p.m. today.
Also advancing in three sets was second-seeded Casper
Ruud, of Norway, who withstood Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in the quest for his fifth title this year, which would be a tour high.
The matches came before a sellout crowd of some 2,000, which followed strong attendance through the tournament, according to Redondo.
“That’s exceeded our expectations,” Redondo said. “Every single day there was a ton of support for the players.”
The event resulted from a ripple effect of three tourneys canceling in China and creating a void in the tour schedule.
San Diego conveniently became a lead-in to the BNP Paribus Open in Indian
Wells, which starts Monday, delayed from traditional spring dates due to the pandemic. As a tune-up, the local event drew the second strongest ATP 250 tourney of the season, based on player rankings.
Whether the San Diego Open becomes a “one-anddone” event remains a question. It’s operated on a oneyear contract.
“We want to bring this tournament back,” Redondo said. “Our intentions have been to put on the best event possible to impress the players, the ATP supervisors, the community and tennis world, all to say, ‘Why not San Diego?’ ”
The 28th-ranked Norrie, going for his second title in five finals this year, has only prospered on the court, but also enjoyed the setting.
“Everyone loves playing here and competing in California, especially this area,” said Norrie, 26. ”We’re close to the beach, and the weather’s been perfect. I’d definitely like to come back.”
The left-handed Norrie jumped to a 3-1 lead in the third set. Then he held firm to clinch the match on service and turned to cheer with the crowd.
“I was nervous (toward the end), but it made me a little sharper,” said Norrie, who avenged a loss to Rublev in their only other meeting a year ago. “I had extra energy at the end, and the crowd helped me through it.”
Rublev, who lost service once each in the second and third sets, showed frustration after some off play with outbursts and even racket pounding at one point.
The 10th-ranked Ruud, 22, prevailed in the first hard-court semifinal of his career with the help of a service break to take a 4-3 lead in the third set against Dimitrov, 30, the 29th-ranked player, once as high as third.
“I just tried to hang in there,” Ruud said. “Fortunately, I got some key points at the end to give me the win, luckily.”
Ruud and Norrie will be opposing each other for the first time.