Holger Rune overcomes a tough debut against Berrettini in Shanghai | ATP Tour

Shanghai

Rune overcomes a tough debut against Berrettini in Shanghai

Cobolli came back from Wawrinka and will be Djokovic’s rival in 3R

October 07, 2024

It was worth waiting to see Holger Rune’s debut at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, even though the No. 12 seed had had to start his journey against a major rival like Matteo Berrettini.

The Dane managed to recover from a bad start against the Italian, to end up turning the match around 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 this Monday at the Asian ATP Masters 1000 tournament. After advancing in the first round without playing due to their seeding status, the match was originally scheduled for Saturday.

The insistent rain in the last three days in the Chinese city had prevented Rune and Berrettini from resolving their second round clash. Although it is Monday, the adverse weather conditions did not cease, they were able to play their indoor match at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena.

“It was a pretty good game, honestly. I think there was very quality tennis. We hit a lot of winners, good serves, good movements, so I’m happy to start my tournament like this,” acknowledged the Dane.

Rune resisted Berrettini’s 16 aces, according to Infosys ATP statistics, to end up signing the comeback in one hour and 59 minutes. The Dane kept 82% of the points he put into play on his first serve and took advantage of two of the five break opportunities – one in each of the last two sets – to advance in Shanghai.

“I think it was pretty good,” said Rune, who dominates the Lexus ATP Head2Head against Berrettini 3-1. “It seems to me that he made no mistakes in the first set and I did. He didn’t allow me to make many mistakes. I think the same thing happened in the second and third sets, but in the opposite direction. Every time he was centered or short, I was there to punish his blows.”

With a 13-7 record at the ATP Masters 1000 this season, he will now face No. 33 seed Jiri Lehecka for a fourth-round berth in Shanghai. The 21-year-old Dane is looking for a great performance to improve his chances of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals. And Rune is at No. 15 in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin after beating Berrettini and could reach the eighth line of the rankings if he lifts the title in China.

“I think I have been consistent in many tournaments, but I have not completed the journey,” said Rune, whose best result this year was the final in Brisbane. “It’s a process. You have to keep working, keep trying to do things well. For my part, there was a big change from the first set in the last two. “I was hitting the ball better.”

“I am happy with the way I have started the tournament. I think that’s my way of playing and I’m going to continue like that,” he added.

For his part, Flavio Cobolli also signed a prestigious comeback against Stan Wawrinka 6-7(6), 7-6(4), 6-3 in two hours and 30 minutes.

The Italian, seeded No. 28, completed the third round draw in Shanghai, after signing the 40th victory of his career (40-36).

Cobolli will be the rival of the current No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Novak Djokovic, for a place in the round of 16 in the first duel recorded by the Lexus ATP Head2Head between the two. For the 22-year-old Italian it will be the third time this season in the third round of an ATP Masters 1000 tournament (Madrid, Cincinnati and Shanghai).