Remembering Ryan Harrison’s feat and other 15-year-old match winners

ATP Tour

Shahida Jacobs
April 11, 2018

This week marks a decade since Ryan Harrison joined a very exclusive ATP Tour club.

Back in 2008, Harrison stunned Pablo Cuevas 6-4, 6-3 in just 57 minutes at the US Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston.

So what was so significant about the win?

Harrison was only 15 years old at the time and he became only the 10th player to win an ATP Tour main draw match before his 16th birthday. He was also the first since a certain Rafael Nadal achieved the feat in Mallorca in 2002.

At 15 years and 11 months, the teenager was also the 10th youngest player to claim an ATP Tour victory.

“I’m pretty sure when I get alone by myself later, probably just laying around the hotel, it’ll really kind of sink in what’s happened,” the American said.

“Hopefully, I can keep it going.”

Harrison faced his compatriot James Blake in the second round, but went down in straight sets.

He had to wait until 2017 to finally join the trophy winners circle as he won the Memphis Open.

Harrison, though, remains a member of the ATP’s top 10 youngest players to win a match club as he is sitting in 10th place.

Franco Davin from Argentina is the youngest as he was 15 years and one month when he won a match in 1985.

Other familiar names include Michael Chang, Andre Agassi, Bjorn Borg, Mats Wilander and, of course, Nadal.

Top 10 youngest players to win an ATP match.
Franco Davin (Arg) (15 years, 1 month) – Buenos Aires 1985, Hans Gildemeister 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
Tommy Ho (USA) (15 years, 2 months) – Rye Brook 1988, Matt Anger 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
Jimmy Arias (USA) (15 years, 6 months) – Palm Harbor 1980, Warren Maher 7-6, 6-1
Michael Chang (USA) (15 years, 6 months) – US Open 1987, Paul McNamee 6-3, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4
Andre Agassi (USA) (15 years, 9 months) – La Quinta 1986, John Austin 6-4, 6-2
Bjorn Borg (Swe) (15 years, 10 months) – Madrid 1972, Antonio Zugarelli 7-6, 6-3
Mats Wilander (Swe) (15 years, 10 months) – Bastad 1980, Jan Kallquist 6-4 6-4
Richard Gasquet (Fra) (15 years, 10 months) – Monte Carlo 2002, Franco Squillari 7-6, 3-6, 7-5
Rafael Nadal (Esp) (15 years, 10 months) – Mallorca 2002, Ramon Delgado 6-4, 6-4
Ryan Harrison (USA) (15 years, 11 months) – Houston 2008, Pablo Cuevas 6-4, 6-3