Holger Rune outlasts Cerundolo in 4-hour clash

Monday, 05 June 2023 at 19:33

Holger Rune is through to the quarter-final of Roland Garros (French Open) once again after beating Cerundolo 7-6(3) 3-6 6-4 1-6 7-6(7) after 4 hours of battling.

Rune played in the quarter-final last year as well however Casper Ruud proved better. The Dane will get another crack at Ruud as they will meet once again in the quarter-final of this event. It comes after he outlasted Francisco Cerundolo though it was a match he could have lost and some would say should have lost.

The Argentine played pretty good tennis, probably better times for a good portion of this match but Rune was able to grind out the match. He took the first set after throwing away an early lead and allowing Cerundolo to get back into the match. That tiebreak win showed him dealing with pressure really well and he showed that once more at the end of the match.

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Cerundolo returned with vengeance in the second set beating him 6-3 and then we saw Rune take the 3rd set 6-4 once again. Cerundolo once again returned furiously in the next set smashing Rune 6-1 who started to show signs of fatigue. You could easily say that he kind of tanked his way through that set struggling with movement a bit. That struggle continued later on in the match especially towards the end when he failed to close out the match allowing Cerundolo another chance.

We went into the match tiebreak which is played until ten and Cerundolo had the upper hand initially though Rune kept fighting and battling. Ultimately he was able to grind out the match taking it 10-7 with Cerundolo making too many mistakes in the crucial rallies. The win basically showed Rune more capable to hold it together in pressure moments as he took both tiebreaks in the match.