Synopsis
On March 12, Holger Rune defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in the fourth round of Indian Wells, ending Tsitsipas's seven-match winning streak. Rune showcased remarkable skills, improving his head-to-head record against Tsitsipas to 4-0, and is set to face Tallon Griekspoor in the quarter-finals.Key Takeaways
- Holger Rune defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-4.
- Rune improved his record against Tsitsipas to 4-0.
- This is Rune's ninth Masters 1000 quarter-final.
- Rune's best result was winning the title in Paris in 2022.
- Tallon Griekspoor is Rune's next opponent.
Indian Wells, March 12 (NationPress) Holger Rune triumphed over Stefanos Tsitsipas in the fourth round of Indian Wells, effectively ending the Greek's impressive seven-match winning streak.
Rune showcased his complete skill set in a 6-4, 6-4 victory, improving his head-to-head record against the Grand Slam finalist to 4-0. He executed one of the most remarkable shots of the year in the second set—a tweener lob.
This marks Rune's ninth appearance in a Masters 1000 quarter-final, with his most notable achievement in this category being a title victory in Paris in 2022 at the age of just 19. After reaching the same stage in Indian Wells last year, the 12th seed has become the first Scandinavian player to reach consecutive quarter-finals in the California desert since Stefan Edberg in 1994-95, as reported by the ATP.
Rune began the year inconsistently, although he made it to the fourth round of the Australian Open. He faced challenges in February, unable to secure back-to-back wins in tour-level events held in Rotterdam, Buenos Aires, and Acapulco.
Following his 16th Top 10 victory, Rune looks to maintain his momentum when he faces Tallon Griekspoor in the quarter-finals.
“I played an exceptionally good match throughout. I remained committed to my game plan and maintained great mental focus. That, I believe, was the key to my success,” Rune stated in a TV interview, reflecting on his performance after having to retire from his last tournament in Acapulco due to food poisoning.
Earlier, Griekspoor triumphed over Japanese qualifier Yosuke Watanuki and the rain, making it to his first ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final.
In a rain-affected match, Griekspoor secured a 7-6(4), 6-1 victory, becoming the first Dutch player to reach the last eight at a Masters 1000 event since Robin Haase in 2018.
Griekspoor achieved a significant career milestone in the second round by defeating the No. 2 player in the ATP Rankings, Alexander Zverev. He has been on fire recently, having also reached the semi-finals in Dubai.
