Today was a big day for Andrey Rublev, ranked 254th on ATP. Besides the big day, this season has been a big season too. The junior has already reached the quarterfinals in one Challenger (l. to Rajeev Ram) and the second round in five ATP events (counting this one as well). Three of the five were at ATP 250 level, one at ATP 500 and another one at ATP Masters 1000 (l. to Isner).
Rublev's season has been great so far with a 15-8 win-loss record, Jarkko has a win-loss record of 11-11 and some early losses at almost all the tournaments he has entered this season. This year the Nieminen has not gotten past the second round often. In 11 tournaments he reached the second round at six tournaments so far, and the third round at the Australian Open (l. to Wawrinka).
This Sunday was a tough battle. The Russian wildcard hit 77% of his first serves in and won 55 of 74 points on it. Andrey hit ten aces and had one double fault, while Nieminen hit nine aces and had three double faults. The former world number 13 saved two break points of the six he faced.
Now, the Russian is going to play against world number ten and second-seeded Marin Cilic. They never met before. Note that Rublev was forced to quit the French Open because the organization offered him a wildcard to the qualifying rounds and not to the main draw which is usually given to former junior champions. With a wild card to qualifying the junior player can't play because he is in Geneva and the qualifying starts tomorrow. Jarkko's next match will be in the French Open main draw.