Holger Rune, the defending champion at the BMW Open, extended his winning streak to nine matches with a dominant 6-4, 6-2 victory over Daniel Elahi Galán on Thursday. Despite facing challenging weather conditions that included rain, sleet, and hail, Rune displayed remarkable resilience and efficiency to secure his place in the next round.
The match began under overcast skies, but as Rune and Galán traded blows in the opening set, a sudden downpour forced a 45-minute delay. Upon resumption, the conditions remained treacherous, with hail bouncing off the court surface. However, Rune remained unfazed, donning long sleeves under his Nike kit while retaining his signature short shorts.
Rune’s serve proved to be a formidable weapon throughout the match, as he lost just two points behind his first serve. His aggressive baseline play also kept Galán on the back foot, forcing the Colombian to make uncharacteristic errors. Rune broke Galán’s serve twice in the first set and once in the second set to seal the victory in one hour and 39 minutes.
“It was very cold, I think we all feel it,” Rune joked on court after the match. “I’m used to it; I’m from Denmark, so it’s ok! It’s great to finish in two sets and nice to be back in Munich, so I’m enjoying it.”
Rune’s victory sets up a potential clash with Yannick Hanfmann or Swiss qualifier Marc-Andrea Hüsler in the next round. Hüsler holds a surprising 2-1 head-to-head advantage over Rune, having won their first two matches in 2022.
Rune is aiming to become the first player to win three consecutive titles at the BMW Open since Thomas Muster in 1993-1995. His impressive form and resilience in challenging conditions suggest that he is well-positioned to achieve this feat.
