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regular-article-logo Monday, 23 December 2024

Shanghai Masters: Holger Rune rallies to win rain-delayed match

The 12th-seeded Dane produced a resilient display to beat the former Wimbledon finalist Berrettini 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in just over two hours

Our Bureau, AP/PTI Shanghai Published 08.10.24, 10:50 AM
Holger Rune in action against Matteo Berrettini in Shanghai on Monday.

Holger Rune in action against Matteo Berrettini in Shanghai on Monday. Reuters

Holger Rune came from behind to win a thrilling contest againstItaly’s Matteo Berrettiniand reach the third round of the Shanghai Masters on Monday.

The 12th-seeded Dane produced a resilient display to beat the former Wimbledon finalist Berrettini 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in just over two hours.

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In a match that was originally scheduled for Saturday and delayed by persistent rain at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena,Berrettini broke for a 5-4 lead in the first set before calmly closing it out.

Berrettini appeared to be on the brink of closing out the match as he continued to ease through his service games, but Rune raised his level to strike in the 12th and final game of the set to level.

The decider ultimately came down to two epic games, with Rune saving a break point on his way to holding serve for 1-0, before taking his third break point opportunity of the eighth game to claim the advantage and then sealing the match.

Seventh-ranked Taylor Fritz and 10th-ranked Grigor Dimitrov also got to complete their respective second-round matches, two days after starting.

Fritz had led 4-3 in the opening set against Frenchman Terence Atmane when rain suspended play on Saturday and then washed out all matches on the outside courts until Monday.

The 26-year-old American needed two tie-breakers to see off the No. 161-ranked Atmane 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5) with only one break of serve for each in the 122-minute match. Fritz will play Japanese qualifier Yosuke Watanuki in the third round.

Dimitrov, playing in his 100th Masters event, resumed Monday with a set lead but down a break in the second against Zizou Bergs. The No.73-ranked Belgian converted his advantage to take the second set before Dimitrov responded by breaking Bergs three times — for the loss of one of his own service games, to clinch the match 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.

US Open semi-finalist Frances Tiafoe routed Zhou Yi of China 6-2, 6-4, while Tallon Griekspoor beat the 26th-seeded Jordan Thompson 6-3, 6-2. Roman Safiullin had a 6-4, 6-2 win over Alexander Bublik.

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