Holger Rune knocks out Stanislas Wawrinka in the first round of the Rolex Paris Masters
For his first participation in the Rolex Paris Masters, Holger Rune was served. The young Dane (19), a real rising star on the circuit, had to bump into Stan Wawrinka, one of the public’s darlings, on court n°1 and its reputedly electric atmosphere. But if Grandpa resisted, it was the young guard who won (4-6, 7-5, 7-6 [3]). Cédric Pioline, tournament director, was not mistaken and moreover spent most of the match in the stands, not far from a Kev Adams who was not the last to encourage his friend Stan.
At the end of a captivating match lasting 2 hours 32, the 37-year-old Swiss had to weigh in the legs compared to those of his opponent. Wawrinka can especially blame himself for having sold two match points when he was leading 5-4 in the second set. But Rune finally held her serve and chained over three games to tie it at one set everywhere.
Until then, the two men had given a real recital. At the sight of Rune, the Swiss objected to a ball that was always so heavy that his opponent regularly struggled to control it. Rune, he practiced his resolutely offensive tennis and described mouse holes to place unstoppable passages.
In the last set, neither man wanted to let go of his serve. 1 hour and 4 minutes after the second, Wawrinka obtained a third match point. But Rune saved her once again on her serve. Everything was therefore going to be played in the tie-break, where the Dane managed to find a boost of energy while we felt the two men clearly tired and that dark circles had appeared under their eyes. Youth bonus on the last points and first victory at the Rolex Paris Masters for Holger Rune who will challenge Hubert Hurkacz, still on court n°1, in the next round.