Three matches and two busted rackets into the BB&T Atlanta Open, Ryan Harrison, is on a hot streak.
While other players are feeling the effects of the 90-degree weather, the Louisiana native is thriving under the sun.
“Psychologically, I feel like once I get out in this weather and this heat — it’s what I grew up in — so the ball jumps off the way I like it with my kick serve and with my forehand,” said Harrison, ranked No. 53 in the world, after his 6-7 (3), 6-2, 7-6 (5) win over world No. 23 Chung Hyeon.
But the Georgia weather isn’t the only thing contributing to the heat Harrison and his opponents are feeling. The 2017 Atlanta Open runner-up’s on-court outbursts up the intensity of whatever match he’s playing and catch the attention of spectators hoping for some drama.
Those anticipating Harrison to sacrifice a racket or share a few words with the chair umpire were not disappointed. After dropping the first tie break to Hyeon, Harrison bounced his racket against the court, and a double fault in the final set prompted frustrated shouts.
Both explosions sparked productive play, as Harrison closed out points in the game following his racket toss and went on to win four consecutive points after letting off some steam in the third set. In his eyes, “there’s a difference between letting out some emotion and carrying on and whining.”
“I think that if you let out some emotion, and then you’re actually engaged the whole time, it’s not necessarily a bad thing for my game,” he said. “Early on in my career when I was a newcomer, I used to get even more fiery than I am now, and I actually don’t think it was a bad thing for me because I was also one of the most difficult competitors in the game. As I juggled over the years trying to find a way to stay calmer, it also hurt my ability to compete as well as I can.”
Harrison’s quarterfinal match wasn’t a perfect showing, but he felt he was able to stick to his guns and ride his aggressive energy into the semifinals without going over the top.
“Whenever I’m trying to play and compete, I obviously don’t want to do something that’s going to embarrass me or embarrass my family out there, but I still want to be able to have that competitive edge,” he said. “Today would be a perfect example of walking the line where I was a great competitor out there and still was able to be myself.”
Harrison will face Cameron Norrie in a semifinal match Saturday. Norrie defeated Nick Kyrgios 7-5, 3-0 in a match cut short when Kyrgios retired because of an injury.
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