Holger Rune, the 20-year-old Danish sensation, pulled off a remarkable comeback at the 2024 BNP Paribas Open, rallying from match point down to stun 2022 champion Taylor Fritz 2-6, 7-6 (2), 6-3.
Rune, seeded No. 7, faced an uphill battle against the No. 12 seed Fritz, who had won their previous encounter in straight sets. However, the young Dane displayed resilience and determination, saving match point in the second set and dominating the third to secure his first Sunshine Swing quarterfinal berth.
The match started tensely, with both players holding serve through the first five games. Fritz then broke Rune’s serve and won the next four games to take the first set. Rune fought back in the second set, holding serve and pushing Fritz to deuce in the seventh game. Fritz saved two break points with aggressive play, but Rune refused to be denied.
Serving to stay in the match, Rune saved match point with a powerful serve and turned the tide in the ensuing tiebreaker. He raced through the first four points and forced a forehand error from Fritz on set point, sending the match into a deciding set.
Rune carried his momentum into the third set, breaking Fritz’s serve in the fourth game and holding his own serve comfortably. He sealed the victory with a thunderous forehand winner, setting up a quarterfinal clash with 2023 finalist Daniil Medvedev.
Rune’s victory is a testament to his growing maturity and ability to perform under pressure. He has now reached two Masters 1000 finals and two Grand Slam quarterfinals in the past year, and his performance at Indian Wells suggests that he is ready to challenge for even greater titles in the future.
