WATCH: Holger Rune passes tough test to reach Queen’s semi-finals
Holger Rune faced a challenging trial against Lorenzo Musetti on Friday but came through it well to secure his place in the Queen’s Club Championships.
After one hour and 54 minutes, the second seed overcame Musetti 6-4, 7-5 in the maiden match between the young stars at the tour level.
In order to move to his first-ever grass-court semifinal, Rune leaned on an aggressive second serve that saw him win 54 per cent of points on his clutch delivery.
Musetti was unable to match Rune serve for serve and eventually offered too many chances to the Dane.
“I enjoy it [on grass]. I think I’m starting to play better and better,” Rune said in his post-match interview.
“[It’s] getting more challenging in every match and I think my mindset has been incredibly good these three matches. I’ve been able to come from a break behind and stay in the moment.
“Grass is also tough for the body. First few matches, every part of your body has to get used to it, the movement, the upper body, everything. So I was struggling a bit but I’m happy that I could finish and win a match.”
After falling behind 1-4 in the first set, Rune won five straight games to seize the impetus and the opening frame.
The Dane saved two set points at 4-5 in the second set as well and relled off three more game wins on the trot to close out the win.
“I had, since I woke up this morning, some pain in the wrist,” Rune said. “I think grass is so much faster than clay, so if you become a bit late on the ball, or on the serve [return], it’s a lot of pressure on your wrist. That was the case. I took some treatment. It was painful a couple of games after but I feel okay now.”
Rune, who hasn’t dropped a set this week, will play Alex de Minaur on Saturday after the Australian upset Adrian Mannarino, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to advance to the last four.
The seventh-seeded De Minaur is going for his second title at a grass court to add to his Eastbourne crown from 2021. The Aussie ended former Wimbledon champion Andy Murray’s grass court winning streak earlier this week.
Rune is in line to reach a new career-high World No 5 on the ATP Rankings if he wins the title at the Queen’s Club.
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