Monte Carlo Masters Highlights: Teenager Holger Rune advanced to his first-ever Monte Carlo Masters final. The 19-year old moved past Jannik Sinner 1-6, 7-5, 7-5 in a late-night thriller on Saturday, 15th April 2023. Follow Monte Carlo Masters 2023 LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
Monte Carlo Masters Highlights: Holger Rune enters maiden Monte Carlo Masters final, defeats Jannik Sinner in nail-biting thriller in semifinal – Watch Highlights
WHAT A MATCH 👏 @holgerrune2003 digs deep to get past Sinner 1-6 7-5 7-5 and secure a spot in the final!@ROLEXMCMASTERS | #RolexMonteCarloMasters pic.twitter.com/px947LSocj
— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 15, 2023
In a battle between two of the brightest talents on Tour, it was the 19-year-old Rune who handled the conditions and pressure the best in a rain-disrupted clash on Court Rainier III. The Dane struck his clean groundstrokes with aggression in the heavy conditions and recovered from a slow start against the 21-year-old Italian to advance after two hours and 46 minutes.
“It was quite unbelievable,” Rune said. “Jannik started firing, hitting a lot of winners and he has been in good form the past few months. I had to dig deep and find solutions, which I did well. It was fun to play like this.”
Competing in heavy conditions, seventh seed Sinner and sixth seed Rune looked to dictate in the brutal baseline exchanges. After Sinner dominated the first set, both hammered the ball with unrelenting force following the 47-minute rain delay which came when Rune led 3-0 in the second set.
Monte Carlo Masters Highlights: Holger Rune enters maiden Monte Carlo Masters final, defeats Jannik Sinner in nail-biting thriller in semifinal – Watch HighlightsFrom 2-5, Sinner rallied to level at 5-5, saving two set points on serve at 4-5. However, Rune would not be denied, capitalising on Sinner errors to reel off eight of the last 10 points of the set to level.
In a tight deciding set, the 19-year-old used the drop shot effectively to pull Sinner around in a rivalry that fans will become accustomed to watching in the next decade. Locked in battle at the end of the third set, it was Rune who gained the decisive break in the 12th game of the set, triumphing when Sinner struck the net.
Monte Carlo Masters Highlights: Holger Rune enters maiden Monte Carlo Masters final, defeats Jannik Sinner in nail-biting thriller in semifinal – Watch Highlights