Holger Rune makes maiden ATP Tour final in Munich
Holger Rune progressed to his maiden ATP Tour final with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Germany’s own Oscar Otte in Munich.
Rune will face eighth-seeded Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp in Sunday’s BMW Open by American Express final.
Until this week Rune had not managed back-to-back wins this year but has now strung together four in a row.
“I have a goal to be No. 1 in the world”
He’s into a first ATP final, but this could just be the beginning for @holgerrune2003… pic.twitter.com/atXYg9b7KM
ā Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 30, 2022
“It’s a pretty unreal feeling,” said 19-year-old Rune after becoming the third-youngest Munich finalist in the Open Era.
“I didn’t expect this at all coming into this tournament, and I just took it match by match. Obviously, I had a tough draw, playing Zverev in the second round, but I knew it was going to be tough, so I was ready from the beginning, and I’m super happy to be in the final.”
Otte had started the faster of the two and raced out to a 4-1 lead in the first set but Rune would fight back winning five games in a row to take the first set.
“It’s getting better and better, I’m improving every day, and this is what matters,” said Rune. “At the end I have some goals to be No. 1 in the world and you have to start somewhere, and I’m happy to be here in Munich.”
Rune is yet to drop a set in Munich something he puts down to staying calm under pressure.
“I was pretty close [to losing a set] twice this tournament,” said Rune. “I was 4-1 down today and 5-2 in the first round [against Czech Jiri Lehecka]. I just tried to stay in the moment and stay calm, and this really helped me to get back from these kinds of positions. I was always focussed, and that’s what helped me.”
Van de Zandschulp had to sweat for his place in the final after he dropped the opening set to Miomir Kecmanovic in their semifinal.
The World No 40 clinched a 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 but spent nearly three hours on court to achieve the result.
āIām pretty tired,ā said van de Zandschulp.
“It was a long match, tough conditions, the court was so heavy, so I’m happy I made it through.
“It didn’t look like [I would] after the first set, so I’m really happy with the win.
“I had to adjust a little bit.
“It was slower than yesterday, a lot heavier than yesterday, and he did better than me in the first. Second set I started to play better, smarter, and I’m happy I won 6-4 in the third.”
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