Holger Rune thrilled to get off the scorching Hard Rock Stadium court

ATP Tour

James Richardson
March 26, 2023

Holger Rune has revealed the mindset that drove his 6-4, 6-2 win over experienced Argentinean Diego Schwartzman.

Rune didn’t want to give Schwartzman a look in to the match at all and hoped to limit the time he spent on court.

With Rune and Schwartzman opening up Sunday’s order of play, their match played out in the Florida heat.

Rune felt that he was close to his best as he held his composure to comfortably put his opponent away.

“It was very important [to get in front early],” said Rune after the match.

“Diego is very strong… My focus was really to be strong every time I played to put him under pressure, and I did that very well. I’m super happy at how composed I stayed today.”

Rune was able to take charge of the match and would often be able to direct the flow of a rally.

“It’s 30 degrees… So it was going to be very tough physically [if I didn’t stay on the front foot],” said Rune. “My focus was really to step in every time I could and play my game. I think there were a few rallies where I didn’t, but 95 per cent of the match was played on my terms, which was what I wanted.

“I’m super happy that I was able to break him and I only got broken once, because he is super strong as a return player.”

The win was the second straight sets triumph for Rune in as many outings in the Miami Open.

Rune clinically converted all four break points he earned on his way to a victory that took just two minutes over an hour and a half.

Before the competition, Rune expressed his wish to make great memories at Hard Rock Stadium after being forced to retire due to injury during the qualification event last year. The 19-year-old has made a strong start toward that objective in Florida, defeating Marton Fucsovics in his first encounter.

Against Schwartzman, Rune’s all-around game appeared to be in great shape. His strong forehand helped the Dane finish with 25 winners to Schwartzman’s eight. Rune’s break of the Argentine’s serve in the first game was enough to win the first set, and he broke three more times in the second as the World No. 8’s razor-sharp returning proved too much for Schwartzman to handle.

Rune will face either ninth seed Taylor Fritz or 24th seed Denis Shapovalov in the Round of 16.

Holger Rune