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World no. 6 Holger Rune secured his first five-setter victory in the Roland Garros fourth round! The young Dane overcame physical issues and defeated Francisco Cerundolo 7-6, 3-6, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 in three hours and 59 minutes.
Holger took the match tie break 10-7 for a place in his second Major quarter-final, both in Paris. Rune gave away the fourth set, saving energy for the decider and serving for the victory at 5-4. Cerundolo made one last push and broke back to prolong the battle.
The match into a deciding tie break, and Holger played better from 6-7 to rattle off four straight points and set the quarter-final clash against Casper Ruud. The Dane hit eight aces and ten double faults, something he will have to improve against the last year's finalist.
Francisco claimed 11 points more than Holger, although not the crucial ones. Holger sprayed over 70 unforced errors and faced 20 break points. He defended 13 to keep himself in contention and delivered four breaks to stay in touch in sets he won.
The Argentine played better in the shortest and mid-range exchanges, and a couple of errors in the match tie break cost him what would have been a deserved victory. Rune produced four comfortable holds at the start of the match and grabbed a break in game four when Cerundolo placed a backhand wide.
The Dane landed an ace down the T line in the seventh game for a commanding 5-2 lead after 27 minutes. He served for the set at 5-3, and Francisco pulled the break back with a smash winner at the net that kept him in contention.
The set went into a tie break, and Holger landed a perfect drop shot winner for a 4-3 lead. The Dane earned three set points and seized the first after the Argentine's loose drop shot to wrap up the opener in 56 minutes. Rune survived an early scare at the start of the second set, saving five break points before Cerundolo stole his serve in game four for 3-1.
The Argentine denied two break points in the next one to confirm the advantage and held at love in games seven and nine for 6-3 and a boost.
Holger Rune ousted Francisco Cerundolo in five sets at Roland Garros.
The chair umpire Kader Nouni made a massive mistake in the third set's fourth game, and Cerundolo lost serve to fall 3-1 behind.
He pulled it back in game seven and earned a break chance at 4-4, saved by Rune's serve & volley combo. The Dane landed a thrilling forehand down the line winner in the tenth game to create two set points. He seized the first with a forehand down the line return winner that pushed him two sets to one in front after two hours and 22 minutes.
Francisco made a fresh start in the fourth set and converted the fourth break chance with a winner at the net. Struggling physically, the Dane got broken at love to fall 3-0 down and got something to drink during the break.
The Argentine dominated the rest of the set and closed it with his third break at 5-1 after the Dane's double fault. Both players served well in the final set's opening seven games before Holger found himself 40-0 down at 3-4.
Francisco missed his chances, and this game would cost him dearly. Rune held and grabbed a break in the next one to open a 5-4 gap and serve for the victory. Cerundolo cracked a forehand down the line winner for a break chance and seized it after Rune's tired backhand to level the score at 5-5 and bring more drama.
The set went into a match tie break, and they traded a couple of mini-breaks to stay neck and neck. Rune leveled the score at 7-7 with a touchy volley winner at the net and grabbed the next one after the rival's loose forehand.
Holger earned two match points after Francisco's backhand mistake and forced an error from his opponent on the first to secure a place in the last eight.