Isle of Man native tennis prodigy, Billy Harris, has achieved an extraordinary feat by reaching the revered Rothesay Eastbourne International semi-finals. This signifies a momentous milestone in his professional career, marking his inaugural appearance in the ATP last-four stage.
Harris, a former member of Castletown and Albany, is relishing in the splendor of his recent triumphs. Following his gold medal victory for the Isle of Man at the 2015 Island Games in Jersey, the 29-year-old has been making significant strides in the realm of tennis.
Exhibiting an impressive demonstration of prowess and fortitude, Harris advanced to the quarter-finals at the Queen’s Championship just last week. Undeterred, he has now elevated his performance by clinching a place in the semi-finals at Eastbourne.
As the solitary remaining Briton in the men’s singles competition, Harris garnered another accolade by overcoming Italy’s Flavio Cobolli in a closely contested match. Despite his 22-year-old opponent securing the first set in a tie-break, Harris rallied to secure the second set in a similar fashion. Subsequently, he proceeded to assert his dominance in the third and pivotal set, ultimately emerging victorious with a score of 6-2.
The stage is now set for Harris to take on Max Purcell of Australia, who is presently ranked 94th in the world, in the semi-final showdown on Friday. Looking forward, Harris is on the brink of his debut in the main draw at Wimbledon next week, signifying a momentous milestone in his professional career.
For aficionados and enthusiasts of the sport, Harris’ remarkable journey is one to follow as he continues to make an indelible imprint in the world of tennis.
Sources:
– https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/57688807