In an impressive display of skill, Holger Rune kicked off his tournament at the BNP Paribas Nordic Open in Stockholm with a solid performance, advancing to the quarter-finals for the third consecutive time on the ATP tour. As the top seed of this year’s event, Rune faced off against Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics in the opening round, ultimately securing a 6-4, 6-4 victory at the prestigious Royal Tennis Hall.
The match saw Rune showcase his resilience, particularly when Fucsovics attempted a late surge. The Hungarian presented a challenge, especially when he managed to earn break points against Rune while the Dane served for the match. Nevertheless, Rune’s ability to save 8 out of 9 break points during the one-hour and 48-minute encounter proved crucial. Rune’s lone break came late in the first set, where he maintained his composure to close it out.
“It was difficult to close it out but obviously very happy with my performance. It was a great match I think for both of us,” commented Rune post-match, emphasizing the competitiveness of the showdown.
Next up for the Danish star is Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry, who reached the quarter-finals by overcoming Miomir Kecmanovic in a closely contested match that finished 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. The stakes are high for Rune, who is looking to recapture the Stockholm title he won in 2022, as a victory could propel him past Casper Ruud to 11th place in the Race to Turin standings.
Ruud, the second seed at the tournament, has also advanced, defeating Marin Cilic with a scoreline of 7-6(2), 6-4. Should both Rune and Ruud continue their winning ways, they may face off in a highly anticipated final.
In other matches on Thursday, fourth seed Ugo Humbert triumphed over Matteo Berrettini with a spirited 7-6(5), 6-3 win. Humbert, now aiming for his fourth quarter-final victory of the season, will face Italian player Lorenzo Sonego next, fueled by his efficiency on serve and his ability to capitalize on break opportunities.
Meanwhile, British player Jacob Fearnley was unable to overcome the challenge posed by local wildcard Elias Ymer, falling to him in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, in the final match of the day.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Rune as he seeks to build momentum and capture another title in front of a home crowd.
