Holger Rune saves MP to save Kei Nishikori, advances to Tokyo SFs | ATP Tour
Matching Report
Rune saves MP to survive Nishikori, advances to Tokyo SFs
The sixth seed next faces either Shelton or the Phils
September 29, 2024
PHILIP FONG/AFP via Getty Images
Holger Rune is the highest ranked player left in the field in Tokyo.
Written by Krishna Gowda
Holger Rune saved a match point to defeat home hope Kei Nishikori on Sunday in Tokyo and continue his bid for a first ATP Tour title of the season.
The No. 14 in the PIF ATP Rankings rallied to beat two-time Tokyo champion Nishikori 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 in two hours and 16 minutes to advance to the semifinals of the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships. .
The Dane received a time violation while facing match point serving at 3-5 in the decider, but got a big first serve to get him out of trouble and recovered to move one step closer to claiming his first title of the year. He reached the final this season in Brisbane, where he lost 6-7(5), 4-6 to Grigor Dimitrov.
“His swing and feel on the ball was amazing and it was very challenging for me,” Rune said in his post-match interview. “I had to find another gear to be able to beat him and it almost took an intervention, but I was able to find that level and find that fighting spirit to beat him.”
Waking up to the event ⚡️@holgerrune2003 save a match point against Nishikori to advance to the last four in Tokyo.@japanopentennis | #kinoshitajotennis pic.twitter.com/UJjN0FTkEE
– ATP Tour (@atptour) September 29, 2024
The Dane hit 39 winners, according to Infosys ATP Stats, to win the first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting. Rune also saved six of eight break points he faced to become the fifth player to make six tour-level semifinals this year.
The 21-year-old is currently seeded 16th in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin as he looks to win a second straight Nitto ATP Finals. He will next face eighth seed Ben Shelton or #NextGenATP talent Arthur Fils in the final four.
