Holger Rune’s spectacular rise puts him in a duel against Sinner in the round of 16 of the Australian Open.

Holger Rune showed determination and courage in a thrilling third-round match at the Australian Open, where he defeated Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic 6-7, 6-3, 4-6 , 6-4, 6-4, after a marathon of three hours and 27 minutes. The Danish star, ranked 13th, managed to come back from the abyss to qualify for the fourth round, where she will face world number one Jannik Sinner in a highly anticipated duel.

A match full of twists and turns

Rune’s journey to victory was anything but easy. Trailing two sets to one and 4-2 in the fourth set, the 21-year-old prodigy was on the verge of elimination. Nonetheless, Rune showed resilience by winning four straight games to force a deciding set and eventually triumphed over Kecmanovic in the latter stages of the match.

Rune’s aggressive style of play was illustrated by his 83 winners, although he made 55 unprovoked errors, putting pressure on his opponent in every rally. Despite a solid performance from Kecmanovic, who recorded 45 winners and just 26 unforced errors, the Serbian missed crucial moments, allowing Rune to take control of the match.

Key moments of the confrontation

• Drama in the first set: Rune managed to break to take the lead at 3-2, but lost that lead after failing to consolidate. Kecmanovic dominated the tie-break, winning 7-6 with an impressive backhand volley.
• Rune’s reaction: In the second set, Rune’s forehand dictated the pace, allowing him to score an early break and lead 5-3. A decisive ace on set point tied the match.
• Costly mistakes: Rune double-faulted on a set point in the third set, giving Kecmanovic the opportunity to take a 2-1 lead.
• Swing bridge: At 4-2 in the fourth set, Rune managed a comeback with an impressive backhand and strung together four games to advance to the fifth set.
• Final rush: In the deciding set, Rune remained calm under pressure. A vital break at 4-4 gave him the lead, and a diagonal winner sealed his victory.

“Coming close to elimination but making it through!” »

Rune acknowledged the difficulty of this match after the match, saying: “Miomir pushed me to my limits today. I had to stay aggressive, believe in my game and keep fighting until the end. »

Kecmanovic, who fought valiantly, will certainly rue the missed opportunities, particularly his inability to close out the fourth set when he appeared to be in control.

An imminent clash with Sinner

Rune’s reward for this exhilarating victory is a fourth-round match against Jannik Sinner, the current world number one. The two rising stars should put on a captivating spectacle in what could be a marquee encounter for the tournament.