Holger Rune set for big rankings drop after Monte Carlo loss as Jannik Sinner stays strong
Holger Rune is set to drop down the ATP Rankings after his Monte Carlo Masters campaign came to an end on Friday.
A beaten finalist in Monte Carlo 12 months ago, Rune was beaten by world No 2 Jannik Sinner 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-3 to end his campaign on his French Riviera, after a dramatic few days.
Due to poor weather in Monte Carlo, it took Rune two days to finish his second round match – a three-set victory over qualifier Sumit Nagal – before a hugely dramatic round of 16 clash against Grigor Dimitrov.
In a rematch of the Brisbane final that the Dane lost, he saved two match points to prevail in a match that took over three hours to finish.
And, against an opponent who has lost just once all season, Rune ultimately tasted defeat in yet another dramatic encounter.
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An early break was all Sinner needed to take the opening set, and – with Rune handed a time violation, and warned for unsportsmanlike conduct – seemed set for straightforward victory, only to miss two match points as he lost the second set.
But the Italian broke in the eighth game of the third set to eventually triumph 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-3.
Victory for the Australian Open champion sees him gain some revenge after losing last year’s semi-final between the two and means Rune’s ranking will dip dramatically.
Top 10 exit on Monday
Friday’s result will mean that thanks to a drop of 400 points and some of his closest rivals performing well this week, Rune will drop outside the top 10 of the ATP Rankings come Monday.
What a battle @janniksin wins a thriller 6-4 6-7 6-3 vs Rune to reach the SFs #RolexMonteCarloMasters pic.twitter.com/TfEHuN99iG
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 12, 2024
Having started the week as the world No 7, he will be down to 12th at the beginning of the week, with five players accruing enough points to capitalise on his exit.
And things could get worse for Rune this clay court season, with the 20-year-old now facing an uphill task to be ranked inside the top eight for the French Open draw.
He has 250 points to defend in Munich next week as he looks to regain his Bavarian Open title, while he also has finalist points to defend in Rome next month.
With key rankings rivals such as Casper Ruud, Hubert Hurkacz, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alex de Minaur holding fewer points to defend this clay season, Rune could be in line for a tough draw at the second Grand Slam of the year.
Sinner stays at No 2
With semi-final points to defend from last year, this match also had rankings repercussions for the Italian.
Defeat would have seen him surrender the No 2 spot in the ATP Rankings to Carlos Alcaraz, having only risen to his career-high ranking two weeks ago.
But victory in his quarter-final has guaranteed he will stay ahead of the Spaniard come Monday and gives him a significant advantage ahead of the coming weeks.
With Alcaraz defending titles at the ATP 500 event in Barcelona and the Masters 1000 event in Madrid this month, Sinner is in pole position to seal a top-two seeding at Roland Garros.
