Holger Rune and Casper Ruud are preparing for a last-eight rematch at Roland Garros, following the alleged locker room showdown after last year’s quarter-final at Roland Garros
- Holger Rune saved a match point en route to a five-set victory in the last 16
- He is now set to face Casper Ruud in the Roland-Garros quarter-finals
- The pair reportedly had a locker room confrontation at last year’s tournament
Holger Rune survived by the narrowest of margins at Roland Garros to set up a spicy Nordic derby in the French Open quarter-final.
The exceptional young Dane saved a match point before overcoming Argentine Francisco Cerundolo 7-6 3-6 6-4 1-6 7-6, slipping away 10-7 in the decisive extended tiebreaker.
Rune, still only 20, will now meet last year’s beaten finalist Casper Ruud in the quarter-finals, meaning a repeat of their stormy quarter-final from twelve months ago.
Afterwards, the Dane alleged there was a confrontation in the dressing room which was categorically denied by his Norwegian rival, who suggested he needed to ‘grow up a bit’.
Rune has progressed rapidly over the past year, but was nearly derailed by the tough South American.
Holger Rune (pictured) fought in five sets to advance to the French Open quarter-finals
Rune will face Casper Ruud (pictured) in a rematch of last year’s fiery encounter
There was controversy at the start of the third set when the youngster clearly hit a ball on the second rebound behind the baseline, which led to the Argentine raising his hand and losing the point because the referee Kadir Nouni called him for an obstacle.
Coco Gauff advanced to the quarter-finals with a 7-5 6-2 victory over Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia. She was waiting for the winner of last night’s match between top seed Iga Swiatek and Lesia Tsurenko.
Earlier, Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Mia reached the quarter-finals after the longest women’s game of the year, beating Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-7 6-3 7-5 in three hours and 51 minutes. She now faces Ons Jabeur.
