Holger Rune races into the Paris quarter-finals. Watch live & on demand at TennisTV.com.
Dane Eyes Successful Title Defense and a Place at the Nitto ATP Finals
Running Back into Form, Holger Rune Sets Sights on Paris Quarter-Finals
Defending champion Holger Rune has made an impressive comeback, securing a spot in the quarter-finals of the Rolex Paris Masters. With a crucial win on Thursday night, Rune now has the opportunity to recreate his stunning victory over Novak Djokovic from last year’s tournament, while also boosting his chances of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals.
The 20-year-old Danish player delivered a convincing performance, defeating German Daniel Altmaier with a score of 6-3, 6-3. This victory propels Rune into the quarter-finals, where he will once again face the World No. 1, whom he denied a seventh Paris title in last year’s final.
Rune’s title run in the previous year left him just one spot outside the cut for the Nitto ATP Finals, where he served as the alternate. This year, he is determined to secure the eighth and final place in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin, intensifying the competition for the prestigious event.
How about Holger tonight? 🌃@RolexPMasters | #RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/rqZcATepud
In addition to his remarkable victory over Djokovic in last year’s final, Rune also defeated the Serbian player in three sets during the Rome quarter-finals earlier this year, giving him a 2-1 lead in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.
Against Altmaier, Rune showcased his skills by hitting 21 winners with only 13 unforced errors. He has maintained a flawless record this week, not dropping a single set, and extended his winning streak to eight matches at the tournament. Last year, he achieved five consecutive Top 10 victories, ultimately winning his first ATP Masters 1000 title.
After a strong start to the year that propelled him to a career-high No. 4 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, Rune faced a slump, winning only four matches since Wimbledon. However, with the addition of Boris Becker to his coaching team, Rune displayed promising signs of improvement, reaching the semi-finals in Basel last week.