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The defending champion Holger Rune is through to his second Munich Open semi-final in a row. Holger faced the former Munich champion Cristian Garin in the quarter-final and scored a 6-2, 6-4 triumph in an hour and 18 minutes for a place in the last eight.
The Dane struggled to find the first serve and could have played better after missing it. However, he experienced only two break points, losing serve once and keeping the pressure on the other side. Garin could not follow that pace, dropping almost half of the points in his games and losing serve four times from six chances offered to his top-10 rival.
Rune created three break points in the encounter's third game and seized the third after Garin's loose forehand to open an early advantage. The Dane came from 30-0 down in the fourth game and held after deuce with a service winner to confirm the break and settle into a fine rhythm.
Holger Rune defeated Cristian Garin in the Munich Open semi-final.
The Chilean reduced the deficit with a fine hold in game five and reached another deuce on the return in the next one. Holger kept his focus and fired a powerful serve to bring the game home and remain in front.
The young gun cracked a forehand crosscourt winner in the seventh game and created two break points. He seized the first after Cristian's wayward lob to move 5-2 in front and serve for the opener. Rune squandered three set points before converting the fourth with a service winner for 6-2 after 37 minutes.
Garin held after deuce at the start of the second set, and Rune leveled the score with a touchy volley winner at the net in the next one. The Chilean led 40-15 in game three before dropping four points in a row and losing serve after netting a backhand.
Holger did not stay in front for too long, though, hitting a double fault in the fourth game and bringing the opponent back to 2-2. The Dane hurt his right leg a bit and received treatment after the fifth game. He continued and painted a backhand down the line winner at 3-3 to create a break chance.
Cristian hit a double fault to lose serve and fall 4-3 behind and closer to the exit door. Rune opened a 5-3 lead after deuces in game eight and served for the victory at 5-4. The youngster missed a routine forehand at the net in the tenth game and faced a break point.
He denied it with a service winner and hit another to emerge at the top and secure a place in the semi-final.