Holger Rune crashes out of US Open in first round as Roberto Carballes Baena defeats fourth seed
Tennis News
World No. 4 Holger Rune has crashed out of the US Open in the first round, suffering a shocking four-set loss to Roberto Carballes Baena.
World No. 63 Carballes Baena ousted Rune in four sets, winning the match 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 to progress through to the second round of the New York major.
It was a shaky start for the 20-year-old as he dropped the first set. However, he seemed as though he was turning things around when he won the second set 6-4, and many fans assumed things could only improve for the Dane from then on. Unfortunately for him, the very opposite was about to happen.
Read also
Rune sees match slip away from him
Things initially looked promising for the young player as he broke Carballes Baena to get back on serve at 3-4 in the third set.
However, he then proceeded to lose the next eight points, which signaled the beginning of the end for Rune's 2023 US Open run.
While the fourth seed was returning at 4-2 in the fourth set, a double fault gave Carballes Baena a golden opportunity of three break points, but the Spaniard only needed one to get ahead of Rune.
Overall, Rune committed forty-one errors during the match, helping an on-form Carballes Baena to a place in the second round where he will face either Aslan Karatsev or Jiri Lehecka in the next round.
Read also
Defeat comes after injury and court controversy
This defeat comes after Rune had a difficult run on the North American swing. He lost his opening round at the National Bank Canadian Open earlier this month before retiring from the Cincinnati Open with a back injury.
Moreover, Rune has been involved in a court allocation controversy at the US Open over the last few days, after he took a dig at the tournament organizers for putting him on Court 5, the fifth most important court, as the fourth seed. Some fans were equally shocked at the allocation, while others complained that he should just get on with it.
Now, Rune will not get the chance to play on any more courts at this year's American Slam, but Carballes Baena will no doubt be aiming for a deep run at the tournament now that he has dispatched one of the top seeds.
claps 0visitors 0
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- I predicted whenthe list was finalised that Linda Noskova would win the WTA Finals and her matches against Gauff and Kostyuk prove that. She is the best (underrated) player in the world!Rapunzel11-11-2026
- Either Lena has a chronic internal ailment (i.e., colitis, enteritis, Crohn's, or some type of lower abdomen issue) -- or she is once again dealing with 'Vukovitis'. Mental stress can indeed cause lower body pains. No matter... whatever is truly going on sucks. "Virus" excuse is getting a bit old -- and often -- at this point.
mandoist09-11-2026 - Ironically, Martina became a U.S. Citizen about the same time as the Orange Convicted Felon & Abuser was just beginning on his road to losing all Daddy's Millions!!
mandoist09-11-2026 - "Another fresh start is in the cards." Thanks for the Humor!! I'm guessing this is the minimum one can do to keep all your sponsors hanging-on in perpetuity?
mandoist09-11-2026 - Vukov is doing this to Lena... AGAIN!!!!! WTA's autonomous collective should be dismantled for allowing Vukov to re-emerge from his hand-slapping suspension. Just ask WTA employees how that's been going lately as they witness his continued verbal abuses. Women's Pro Tennis should start over.
mandoist08-11-2026 - Can't help but suspect Vukov is back to his old self again. Thank you, WTA. Perhaps you can give them a "Battling Couple of the Year Award 2026" ??
mandoist08-11-2026 - Wtf? Why is there no reason? And what about the men's?Bel08-11-2026
- One step by another step -- WTA continues to 'lose the plot'. Too many hi-tech microphones being installed at most venues!!! Remove them (especially those along the hallways, sidewalks, and pathways throughout the venues. Not to mention (most of all) remove the mic's from the Players/Coaches Box.
mandoist06-11-2026 - Enough of her bullshit. Go marry someone.
mandoist06-11-2026 - Don't you just love this young lady!? We fans often expect athletes to be supermen and superwomen, often forgetting that they WILL GET TIRED! I love Alex's perspective. Tiredness for an athlete should never be viewed as a negative, especially if you are healthy, taking care of your body and mental health and putting in the work. What a mature perspective. Good for you, Alex!Rapunzel05-11-2026








