Canadian qualifier Brayden Schnur's fairytale run ends in New York Open final
Schnur was vying for his 1st career ATP tournament title
Brayden Schnur's improbable run at the New York Open has fallen one victory short of a championship.
The Canadian tennis player lost 6-1, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (7) to American Reilly Opelka in the final of the ATP Tour 250 event on Sunday.
The 23-year-old Schnur, who had not won a tour level match before this week, triumphed in four matches in the main draw after qualifying for the event with another two victories.
Schnur, of Pickering, Ont., is projected to move up to around No. 107 in the rankings on Monday after starting the week at No. 154.
An incredible match, but Brayden Schnur comes up just short against Reilly Opelka in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NYOpen19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NYOpen19</a> final.<br><br>He goes down 6-1, 6-7(7), 7-6(7) –– but what a week for the Canadian. He’ll soar up the rankings to just outside the Top 100.<br><br>Congrats on the run, <a href="https://twitter.com/BraydenSchnur?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BraydenSchnur</a>! <a href="https://t.co/PG9Lg9SKCF">pic.twitter.com/PG9Lg9SKCF</a>
—@TennisCanadaSchnur fought off two match point in the second set en route to winning the tiebreak against the 89th-ranked Opelka, but could not pull off his fourth three-set win in a row.
Emotional runner-up speech from Brayden Schnur as he says it’s been an amazing week for him here at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NYOpen19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NYOpen19</a>.<br><br>Great run, Brayden! Can’t wait to see what more you have in store!<a href="https://twitter.com/ATP_Tour?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ATP_Tour</a> <a href="https://t.co/gqFJkb2IpV">pic.twitter.com/gqFJkb2IpV</a>
—@NewYorkOpenSchnur's result in New York earned him an automatic entry into the Delray Beach Open, another ATP Tour 250 event, starting Monday in Florida. He'll face France's Adrian Mannarino in the first round.
The runner-up result continues a string of solid play from Schnur, who reached the quarterfinals at his past two Challenger events after advancing to the final at another Challenger in Newport Beach, Calif.