Tata Open | Ruusuvuori sets up clash with Sousa

Former wins in straight sets , latter saves three matchpoints

Finland youngster Emil Ruusuvuori earned a shot at his maiden ATP World Tour title with a hard-fought win over Kamil Majchrzak while Joao Sousa edged out Elias Ymer after saving three match points in high-quality semifinals at the Tata Open Maharashtra here on Saturday.

Majchrzak got himself to a position where he could have served for the second set to force a decider, but it was the 22-year-old Ruusuvuori who emerged a 6-3, 7-6(0) winner after one hour and 46 minutes of engrossing tennis at the Balewadi Sports Complex.

In the other semifinal, World No. 137 Sousa used all his experience to wriggle out of a tough situation against the talented Swede Ymer before winning 5-7, 7-6(4), 7-5 in three hours and 13 minutes.