MUNICH, April 22, 2023
The 2022 finalists have returned to Sunday’s championship match of the BMW Open by American Express as Holger Rune of Denmark is scheduled to take on Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp. After frosty temperatures at the beginning of the week, the sun has returned to Munich on Saturday and led to a packed crowd on Centre Court at the MTTC Iphitos.
First up was Rune, who proved to be too strong for Australia’s Christopher O’Connell. The No. 1 seed saved all eight break points and capitalized on three of his own four break-point chances to secure a 6-3, 6-2 victory in one hour and 19 minutes.
WELCOME TO THE FINAL 🎉 @holgerrune2003 #bmwopenbyamex pic.twitter.com/4mm9kcDpYn
— BMW Open by American Express (@BMWOpen23) April 22, 2023
“It’s been a very good start to the clay season for me. To be able to continue here in Munich means a lot. I have special memories from here and I am very excited for tomorrow,” Rune said. The 19-year-old has reached his seventh career ATP Tour final in his first title defense after lifting his maiden trophy last year in Munich.
“It was a solid match from start to finish. He is a tricky player and had a great run this week here. I had to give 100 per cent and I am very happy with the level I played today. I always play with the purpose to improve and I did it during these matches. I focused on my serve and the return. It worked well. I managed to break him a lot and finished the match without being broken. It’s a good sign. I am very happy.”
The Northern European feels right at home in the Bavarian capital anyway, although he doesn’t seem to have found a real favourite place yet.
“I am just having dinner in the hotel, enjoying my Wiener Schnitzel every night,” Rune told the press with a broad smile on his face. “I am just doing my thing and enjoying my time. It’s very peaceful and calm here. I like the conditions and the hotel, which is close to the venue. It’s a nice moment for me here.”
Van de Zandschulp knocks off Fritz
Later in the afternoon, van de Zandschulp knocked out second-seeded US-American Taylor Fritz 6-4, 7-6(2). The fourth favourite withstood seven aces and broke his rival’s serve two times to prevail after one hour and 48 minutes.
Botic sails on 🙌@Boticvdz is into the Munich final for the second consecutive year after defeating Taylor Fritz 6-4 7-6. #BMWOpenbyAmex pic.twitter.com/F6SgDeRDiI
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 22, 2023
“I started really well with some good tennis,” said van de Zandschulp. “Taylor, however, is No. 10 in the world for many reasons and he started to hitting harder in the second set. I’m happy to survive a set point and it was a flawless tie-break then.”
It only remains to hope that in the new edition of the championship match, the winner will also be determined in sporting terms this time. In 2022, the Dutchman had to retire after the seventh game in the first set due to illness.
“It was an unfortunate end to my first title,” said Rune. “It was tough, as it was his first final, too. I hope it’s going to be a full match tomorrow.”
Krapuetz to face Erler/Miedler in doubles final
In the doubles final, home favourites and top seeds Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz will take on the all-Austrian combination of Andreas Erler and Lucas Miedler. Krawietz and Puetz defeated Robin Haase from the Netherlands and Philipp Oswald of Austria 7-6(8), 6-2 in one hour and 27 minutes.
Welcome to the FINAL 🇩🇪💪
Congrats to Kevin Krawitz & @GoldenSetTim #bmwopenbyamex pic.twitter.com/Id6RlUU3w6— BMW Open by American Express (@BMWOpen23) April 22, 2023
On Court 1, Erler and Miedler knocked off Yuki Bhambri and Saketh Myneni of India 7-6(4), 6-3. The encounter lasted one hour and 27 minutes.
