Hong Kong Open: Ruusuvuori ousts Ofner to make final

Emil Ruusuvuori won against Austrian Sebastian Ofner 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 to move into the final of the Hong Kong Open at the Victoria Park Tennis Stadium on Saturday night.

It was a clinical performance by the Finn, who struck 26 winners to six errors across the three sets and won 80 per cent of first serve points. Despite only breaking three times from 12 opportunities, Ruusuvuori proved a step too far for Ofner, who has been in red-hot form this week.

Ruusuvuori, ranked No 69, will face the winner of the match between Russian Andrey Rublev, the top seed, and Chinese wildcard Juncheng Shang in what will be his second ATP Tour final.

Ahead of his victory, the Finn beat Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi (6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-1), Russian Karen Khachanov, the second seed (7-6 (2), 2-6, 6-2) and Russian Pavel Kotov (6-3, 7-6 (4)).

Ofner, ranked No 43, defeated American Mackenzie McDonald (6-1, 6-2), German Jan-Lennard Struff, the No 5 seed (6-7 (4), 7-6 (5), 7-6 (2)) and Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut (6-4, 6-4) earlier in the tournament.