Holger Rune Defeats Daniil Medvedev, Advances to Final at BNP Paribas Open
Holger Rune from Denmark triumphed over Daniil Medvedev of Russia with a score of 7-5, 6-4 in the men's singles semifinals at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, on Saturday, securing his place in his first Association of Tennis...
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Holger Rune from Denmark triumphed over Daniil Medvedev of Russia with a score of 7-5, 6-4 in the men's singles semifinals at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, on Saturday, securing his place in his first Association of Tennis Professionals Masters 1000 final since 2023.
Rune initiated the match by breaking Medvedev in the fifth game, but the former World No. 1 from Russia quickly retaliated with a break of his own in the sixth. The 21-year-old Dane managed to convert a second break point in the 11th game, taking a 6-5 lead before holding serve to win the set and establish a 1-0 match lead.
Carrying his momentum into the second set, Rune achieved a love game in the third for an additional break. The two players held serve as the match continued, but Rune thwarted Medvedev's break attempt in the 10th game, sealing the match.
"It means everything," Rune remarked following his win. "The job is not over yet, but it feels amazing, for sure. Playing Daniil is, I think for me, one of the toughest challenges on Tour. We know each other well, and we've practiced a lot, so it was super difficult. I obviously had the right tactic, but he still made it so difficult because he's putting in great effort and great shots, just being super solid. I'm very proud of myself."
In the final, Rune will face Jack Draper, who caused an upset by defeating the heavily favored Carlos Alcaraz with a scoreline of 6-1, 0-6, 6-4, thereby halting the Spaniard's pursuit of a rare "three-peat" in the California desert.
"It was a strange match, you know. Honestly Carlos came out, he was a bit flat, I sensed that," Draper commented. "Against top players in the world, they can change their momentum very quickly, so I just got lost out there for 25 minutes. And then in the third, I came out, I was really proud of my competitiveness, my attitude, and somehow managed to get over the line there in the end."
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
Rune initiated the match by breaking Medvedev in the fifth game, but the former World No. 1 from Russia quickly retaliated with a break of his own in the sixth. The 21-year-old Dane managed to convert a second break point in the 11th game, taking a 6-5 lead before holding serve to win the set and establish a 1-0 match lead.
Carrying his momentum into the second set, Rune achieved a love game in the third for an additional break. The two players held serve as the match continued, but Rune thwarted Medvedev's break attempt in the 10th game, sealing the match.
"It means everything," Rune remarked following his win. "The job is not over yet, but it feels amazing, for sure. Playing Daniil is, I think for me, one of the toughest challenges on Tour. We know each other well, and we've practiced a lot, so it was super difficult. I obviously had the right tactic, but he still made it so difficult because he's putting in great effort and great shots, just being super solid. I'm very proud of myself."
In the final, Rune will face Jack Draper, who caused an upset by defeating the heavily favored Carlos Alcaraz with a scoreline of 6-1, 0-6, 6-4, thereby halting the Spaniard's pursuit of a rare "three-peat" in the California desert.
"It was a strange match, you know. Honestly Carlos came out, he was a bit flat, I sensed that," Draper commented. "Against top players in the world, they can change their momentum very quickly, so I just got lost out there for 25 minutes. And then in the third, I came out, I was really proud of my competitiveness, my attitude, and somehow managed to get over the line there in the end."
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
