Sofia Open Semifinal LIVE: Holger Rune advanced to his second ATP Tour final of 2022 on Saturday at the Sofia Open after star Jannik Sinner retired from the pair’s semi-final clash due to an ankle injury. Rune was leading 5-7, 6-4, 5-2 in a hard-hitting encounter against Sinner at the ATP 250 event in Bulgaria when the top seed was forced to stop. The Italian, who was chasing his third consecutive title in Sofia, had twisted his ankle in a heavy fall when Rune led 3-2, 0/15 in the third set. Follow Sofia Open LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
Sofia Open Semifinal LIVE: Holger Rune enters Sofia Open final, Jannik Sinner withdraws mid-way from semifinal contest due to injury – Check Highlights
Through to his first hard court ATP final!@holgerrune2003 gets past Sinner after he is forced to retire with injury at 5-7, 6-4, 5-2.@sofiaopentennis | #SofiaOpen pic.twitter.com/rlnosQyQYj
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 1, 2022
“It’s obviously never the way you want to win and it was such a great match,” said Rune in his on-court interview. “It’s the worst possible way it could end and I just want to wish Jannik all the best. He’s an amazing player and what he has shown this year has been unbelievable. I wish him a speedy recovery.”
“I think it was a great match up until the end, and I think I was obviously feeling a little bit tired after yesterday, but I really pushed hard and ran for everything,” said Rune. “So I’m happy with the way I fought and happy with my level.”
Having lifted his maiden ATP Tour title on the clay in Munich in April, Rune will next face the unseeded Swiss Marc-Andrea Huesler as he pushes for his second tour-level crown.
“He’s been playing amazing and serving so well, especially here he is getting a lot of free points on the serve,” said Rune, who confirmed his qualification for November’s Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals with his quarter-final win against Ilya Ivashka in Sofia on Friday. “So it’s going to be another tough match and I really have to be there on my returns and serve at the same time, so it’s going to be an interesting match for sure.”
Sofia Open Semifinal LIVE: Holger Rune enters Sofia Open final, Jannik Sinner withdraws mid-way from semifinal contest due to injury – Check Highlights
Follow Sofia Open 2022 LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
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