French Open 2022: Rune beats Shapovalov in the outback
Holger Rune won the first round of the 2022 French Open against Denis Shapovalov 6:3, 6:1 and 7:6 (4). The placement for this match is rather suboptimal.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: May 24, 2022, 01:51 pm
By Jens Huiber from Roland Garros
It is of course right and proper that Alizé Cornet opened the competition proceedings on the Philippe-Chatrier court on Tuesday. The largest stadium in the Stade Roland Garros would have been a size too big for the encounter between Holger Rune and Denis Shapovalov. But then the 12? That was really quite deep in the allocation of the playgrounds.
You have to imagine it like this: Court 12 is connected to Court 13, the grandstands on one side connect directly to each other, on the other side there is no seating. As a result, very few fans were able to win a seat with a view to the match between the Munich winner and the Nadal conqueror from Rome (obviously: Rafa had a foot problem). The obvious solution, to alternatively position yourself on the stands of the 13er and watch Rune vs. Shapovalov from afar, was just that: obvious. Which is why queues formed in front of the entrances, which required enormous patience.
Shapovalov not particularly interested
Anyone who managed to do it anyway - and didn't let themselves be distracted by the eternally young hit Aleksandra Krunic against Kamilla Rakhimova - could gather the following impressions: Holger Rune is not as far along as Carlos Alcaraz, who is almost the same age (the birthdays of the two youngsters are only a few years away days apart). While the Spaniard almost always hits the ball with crystal clear tone and timing, Rune surprisingly often gets a little frame involved. Which doesn't change the fact that the 19-year-old Dane will also march inexorably towards the top of the world.
#IMG2#
Also worth noting: Denis Shapovalov wasn't too keen on winning the second after losing the first set. And with the score of 4: 5 in the third act and Rune's serve, he had probably already mentally said goodbye to Stuttgart, where the Canadian will open his 2022 lawn campaign in two weeks. But Rune gave away his first match point quite carelessly, then even got lucky to get into the tie-break.
Rune probably back on a small court
Rune quickly led 5:2, Shapovalov helped friendly as before in the second set. Holger Rune, who won the junior competition in Roland Garros in 2019, earned match points two and three with a formidable serve. Shapovalov then delivered the victory with a forehand error on the silver tray.
If you want to see the teenager's next appearance, you shouldn't be under any illusions about free choice of seats: It's either against Henri Laaksonen or Pedro Martinez, both of whom are nowhere near as prominent as Shapovalov. The Court 5 could be the highest of feelings.
Here the individual tableau in Roland Garros
rgmap