South African qualifier Lloyd Harris is in two minds about reaching his first ATP final at the Adelaide International.
Firstly, a sense of accomplishment.
Secondly, a feeling of unfinished business entering Saturday’s decider against Russia’s third seed Andrey Rublev.
Rublev downed Canada’s second seed Felix Auger Aliassime 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (7-9) 6-4 in Friday night’s semi-final.
Harris, a 22-year-old from Cape Town, could become the first qualifier to win an ATP tournament since Daniil Medvedev in Tokyo in 2018.
“It means the world to me,” the world No.91 said after toppling another qualifier, American Tommy Paul, 6-4 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 in Friday’s semi-final at Memorial Drive.
“It’s another milestone.
“But I’m not happy with the result yet, there’s still a match to be played tomorrow.
“So now, it’s just getting 100 per cent prepared for that and getting my mind focused.”
Harris could become the first South African to capture an ATP title since Kevin Anderson’s triumph in Pune, India, in January last year.
“I actually already got a message from him from to say ‘congrats, well done’ – that is pretty awesome,” Harris said.
“I think it’s great for tennis in South Africa … just for us to have someone different.
“Kevin has been kind of been leading the pack and it allowed me to see what he has done and learn from him.”