LYON/STARNBERG, May 19, 2022
Danish rising star Holger Rune has booked his spot in the semi-finals of the Open Parc Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Lyon. The 19-year-old Gentofte native overcame a slow start and staunch resistance from French qualifier Manuel Guinard, who appeared in the stage of the last eight at an ATP Tour event for the first time after he had battled past US-American lucky loser Michael Mmoh in his second-round match earlier in the day.
Rune rallied from a set down, broke serve twice and outpointed his rival 94-87 to secure a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory in two hours and 18 minutes despite struggling with cramps towards the end of the encounter.
INCREDIBLE finish 😱@holgerrune2003 manages to pull off the most unlikely victory against Guinard, after suffering from cramp and being unable to walk!#OpenParc pic.twitter.com/0e8za3hQHU
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 19, 2022
“I felt very bad at the end. I couldn’t really stand properly. Luckily I was a break up. I tried to find a solution that it could get better and I just tried to hold my serve. I will feel better tomorrow for sure, so I am happy to get through this one today,” Rune said.
The World No. 40, who captured his maiden tour crown at the BMW Open in Munich earlier this month, will next challenge Briton Cameron Norrie. The top seed of the €597,900 clay-court event also had to go the distance to fight past seventh-seeded Argentine Sebastian Baez 6-4, 4-6, 7-5. Norrie converted four of his 13 break-point chances to prevail after two hours and 40 minutes.
“He played a really good match. It was really tough to finish it but I managed to play a good game in the end. I enjoyed the battle and look forward to the next one,” Norrie said.
In the bottom half of the draw, Alex Molcan continued his fine run of form with a comfortable 6-3, 6-2 win over Federico Coria from Argentina. The 24-year-old Slovakian won 56 per cent of the total points played to advance after one hour and 52 minutes.
Molcan will next take on No. 4 seed Alex de Minaur of Australia, who benefited from the retirement from Yosuke Watanuki. The Japanese lucky loser was forced to stop playing after losing the opening set 6-4 due to to injury.
“It is a tough one. It was very tough, a lot of wind. Tough conditions,” de Minaur said. “I was happy I kept my cool and did what I needed to do and [I am] wishing a very speedy recovery to Yosuke, who I know very well from juniors.
“It will be another tough one [against Molcan]. He has been having his best year and I am ready for a battle tomorrow.”
