Ruusuvuori becomes runner-up in HK Open

Emil Ruusuvuori of Finland became runner-up in the 2024 Hong Kong Open after he lost to World No. 5 Andrey Rublev of Russia by 4-6, 4-6 at a sold-out Victoria Park Tennis Stadium on Sunday, reported Xinhua.

As Hong Kong marked its return to ATP Tennis tournament action for the first time since 2002, the Russian grabbed his first laurel in nearly two seasons in one of the quickest matches of the week to start his 2024 season in dominant fashion.

“What a way to start the season! Great week, congrats to Andrey Rublev and thanks to the organizers, fans and especially my team,” Ruusuvuori wrote in a post in social media platform X after the final.

"To win the title is something special. I couldn't have had a better week, so I'm really happy," said Rublev after the final.

"With a full happy feeling I go to Melbourne now and I will enjoy one week of practice there and then we start the Australian Open. I am happy with the way I was performing all the week and with the level that I showed," said Rublev.

In the earlier doubles final, Marcel Arevalo of El Salvador and Croatia's Mate Pavic dispatched top seeds Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen of Belgium in straight sets in their first tournament as a pair.