Santiago: Top junior Holger Rune wins first ATP match
Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune , the current number 1 in the junior world, has won his first match on the ATP tour.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Mar 10, 2021, 12:36 pm
Rune defeated the Argentinian Sebastian Baez 6: 3, 6: 2 and won the second attempt at ATP level for the first time. Last week in Buenos Aires, Rune had already shown that he can keep up - with a three-set defeat against Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
At the ATP 250 tournament in Santiago, the 17-year-old from Denmark first had to fight his way through the qualification, opponent Baez - also a former number 1 among the juniors - had also made it into the main field as a qualifier. In the round of 16, Rune now meets the second seeded Benoit Paire.
Rune had already shone with strong appearances on the ITF World Tennis Tour at the end of 2020 and beginning of 2021, three tournament victories and another three finals have been on the list for him since September 2020. He is currently number 410 in the ATP ranking.
"I think it might be realistic to have the top 100 as a goal by the end of the year," said Rune. "So far I play well, I win matches and try to fight for everyone. I've only lost three matches this year, I want to make it as difficult as possible for my opponents."
Rune trains with Patrick Mouratoglou. In 2019 he won the Roland Garros junior tournament.
Cristian Garin is top seeded at the tournament in Santiago. The only German participant, Daniel Altmaier, was eliminated in round 1 after a defeat against Daniel Elahi Galan (6: 7 (2), 6: 3, 5: 7). Frances Tiafoe is next after a 7: 6 (7), 6: 7 (7), 7: 6 (7) against Nicolas Jarry.