Holger Rune defeats Jack Draper to reach the semifinals of the Cincinnati Open | ATP Tour
Cincinnati
Advancing through the journey, Rune makes his way to the Cincy SFs
The Dane is chasing a first title since Munich last year
August 18, 2024
Mike Lawrence/ATP Tour
Holger Rune was called to serve three times in the second set but held his own.
By ATP staff
Former World No. 4 Holger Rune is on course to reach his first ATP Tour final since the opening week of the season after upsetting Jack Draper in the quarterfinals of the Cincinnati Open on Saturday night.
Rune converted all three of his break points and refused to give up his serve despite being attacked for the second time before closing out a 6-4, 6-2 victory in one hour, 15 minutes in his first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting. by Draper.
“I said after the first round that I have to get better to go deeper and here I am playing tennis at a very high level,” stressed Rune. .
“The scoreboard wasn’t what it felt like out there,” added Rune, who was winless in a match at the Lindner Family Tennis Center earlier this week. “I had to play very dangerous tennis because Jack was after it, especially in the second set. But I managed to stay strong and raise my level, so it was a great game from my side. “
The 21-year-old moved up to No. 15 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings with the win as he reached his fourth ATP Masters 1000 semi-final (first on an outdoor hard court).
Rune has won just one title (Munich 2023) in 20 months since defeating five top-10 opponents en route to the Rolex Paris Masters in November 2022.
Now coached by fellow Dane Kenneth Carlsen, Rune bounced back to beat Matteo Berrettini in the opening round and Gael Monfils in the third round.
Rune got off to a good start, dropping just six service points and winning seven of eight sets in the first set. Draper paid the price by making only 48 percent of the first run.
He then opened the game in the first game of the second when he broke Draper after the Briton had taken a 40/0 lead.
Draper is also made to pay for missed opportunities in Rune’s service. He got hit in the second and fourth games of the set and was 0/40 in the sixth game to see Rune reel off five points in a row.
Rune hit 11 winners in the match and won 10 of 12 sets, according to Infosys ATP Stats.
Draper, who defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round after the Greek served in the match, rose to No. 25 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings this week.
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