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 Employees
Former World No. 4 Holger Rune is inside attain of his first ATP Tour ultimate because the first week of the season after blunting the big-serving recreation of Jack Draper within the Cincinnati Open quarter-finals Saturday night time.
Rune transformed all three break level probabilities he earned and refused to give up his personal serve regardless of coming beneath 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 stated 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 onerous 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 powerful and lift my stage as nicely, so it was an ideal match from my facet.”
The 21-year-old moved as much as No. 15 within the PIF ATP Stay Rankings with the win as he reached his fourth ATP Masters 1000 semi-final (first on an outside onerous 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 right 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 internet approaches within the first set. Draper paid the worth for making simply 48 per cent of first serves in.
He then broke open the match within the first recreation 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 acquired to deuce within the second and fourth video games of the set after which had 0/40 within the sixth recreation solely to see Rune roll off 5 consecutive factors.
Rune hit 11 winners for the match and gained 10 of 12 internet approaches, in keeping with 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 Stay Rankings this week.
