Roland Garros 2023 | Holger Rune pulls away from the super tie-break (7-6, 3-6, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6) to rally the quarters

At 20, Holger Rune emerged victorious in a breathtaking duel. After a Homeric battle of 3h59 and five sets (7-6, 3-6, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6), it was finally the Dane who qualified in the most suspense total for the quarter-finals after winning the super tie-break (10-7). In the next round, Rune will be opposed to Casper Ruud for a rematch of the previous edition, where the Norwegian, outgoing finalist at Roland-Garros, won.

If the poster between Gaël Monfils and Sebastian Baez was undoubtedly the highlight of the first week at Porte d’Auteuil, this duel between Holger Rune and Francisco Cerundolo is for the moment classified at the highest emotional point in this second week. And each time, it was finally the Argentinian who was eliminated after multiple twists and turns.

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On the one hand, the Scandinavian had the costume of the favorite with already a quarter-final played on Parisian ocher last year. But in reality, Cerundolo was tight and could have believed in his chance to win the first match in five sets in a Grand Slam tournament in his career. At 24, the Argentinian had not won a Major match since the start of the fortnight. Eighth finalist in this 2023 edition of the French Open, Cerundolo was able to come out with his head held high from the Suzanne-Lenglen court.

Holger Rune

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Cerundolo victim of a refereeing error in the third set

Started at an intense pace, the meeting opposed two tennis players with an offensive style, but also capable of defending like crazy from the back of the court. Author of a break in the fourth game, Rune was finally joined when serving at 5-3 for the win of the first set. Recovered from the loss of his service game, the winner of the Munich tournament spoke about his experience of major tournaments to win 7-3 in the tie-break after 56 minutes of play (7-6).

Overall more conquering than his opponent but ultimately led by a set, Cerundolo did not panic. In turn, the finalist of the Lyon tournament broke Rune in the fourth game of the second set and kept his solidity on serve to equalize at one set everywhere (6-3). Then, an error of appreciation by Kader Nouni, chair umpire of the match, changed the dynamics of the match.

Holger Rune | Roland Garros 2023 | Tennis | ESP Player Feature

Credit: Getty Images

After seeing the ball double, Cerundolo spoke during the point and was penalized with a break point against him, converted by Rune in the next point. From then on, Cerundolo lost control and the game got tense. Led 4-1, the native of Buenos Aires came back to 4-4… to finally lose a second service game and find himself trailing two sets to one (6-4).

Rune learns very quickly

Undoubtedly too electrified by the event, Rune began to foil at the start of the fourth set. With a double break in advance, Cerundolo quickly took the score to his advantage to complete the round in 27 minutes and pick up two sets everywhere (6-1). Losing momentum, Rune struggled to get back into the game and Cerundolo got three break points to lead 5-3, serve to follow. But against all odds, the finalist of the Masters of Monte-Carlo and Rome this year won his face-off to pick up at 4-4.

Following this, the Dane broke his opponent to serve for the match. But new twist: the Argentinian came back to 5-5! In this unbearable suspense, the two tennis players were decided in the super tie-break. And at 7-7, the sixth in the world was the strongest to win the last three points of an extraordinary meeting and garner confidence. At the last Australian Open, Rune lost to Andrey Rublev in five sets after a super tie-break. You have to believe that the kid learns very quickly…

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