Cincinnati
Bettering with the journey, Rune cuts path to Cincy SFs
Dane chasing first title since Munich final yr
August 18, 2024
Mike Lawrence/ATP Tour
Holger Rune was taken to deuce 3 times within the second set however held his nerve every time.
By ATP Workers
Former World No. 4 Holger Rune is inside attain of his first ATP Tour remaining for the reason that first week of the season after blunting the big-serving sport of Jack Draper within the Cincinnati Open quarter-finals Saturday night time.
Rune transformed all three break level possibilities he earned and refused to give up his personal serve regardless of coming underneath sustained assault within the second set earlier than closing out a 6-4, 6-2 victory in a single hour, quarter-hour in his first Lexus ATP Head2Head assembly with Draper.
“I mentioned after the primary spherical that I would wish to get higher to go deep and right here I’m enjoying some very, superb tennis,” Rune beamed. “It’s simply concerning the course of and I’ve been working arduous from the primary match.
“The scoreboard was probably not the way it felt on the market,” added Rune, who had not gained a match on the Lindner Household Tennis Middle earlier than this week. “I needed to play some very aggressive tennis as a result of Jack was going after it, particularly within the second set. However I managed to remain robust and lift my stage as nicely, so it was an incredible match from my aspect.”
The 21-year-old moved as much as No. 15 within the PIF ATP Reside Rankings with the win as he reached his fourth ATP Masters 1000 semi-final (first on an out of doors arduous courtroom).
Rune has gained only one title (Munich 2023) within the 20 months since defeating 5 High 10 opponents en path to claiming the Rolex Paris Masters in November 2022.
Now coached by fellow Dane Kenneth Carlsen, Rune rallied from a set all the way down to beat each Matteo Berrettini within the opening spherical and Gael Monfils within the third spherical.
Rune began nicely, dropping simply six factors on serve and profitable seven of eight web approaches within the first set. Draper paid the value for making simply 48 per cent of first serves in.
He then broke open the match within the first sport of the second when he broke Draper after the Briton had held a 40/0 lead.
Draper additionally was made to pay for missed alternatives on Rune’s serve. He bought to deuce within the second and fourth video games of the set after which had 0/40 within the sixth sport solely to see Rune roll off 5 consecutive factors.
Rune hit 11 winners for the match and gained 10 of 12 web approaches, based on Infosys ATP Stats.
Draper, who defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas within the second spherical after the Greek served for the match, has risen to a career-high No. 25 within the PIF ATP Reside Rankings this week.
