Daniil Medvedev knocked out by Holger Rune in straight sets in Monte Carlo quarter-finals
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Updated 14/04/2023 at 18:59 GMT
Holger Rune has knocked Daniil Medvedev out of the Monte Carlo Masters in their first ever meeting. Medvedev struggled to get into a rhythm and struggled with the long rallies on his unfavoured clay surface, while Rune produced a fine performance to seal his place in the semi-finals for the first time in his career. Rune produced 18 winners compared to Medvedev's 11 and made less unforced errors.
Highlights: Rune stuns Medvedev in first meeting between pair to reach Monte Carlo semis
Holger Rune is through to the Monte Carlo Masters semi-finals after beating Daniil Medvedev 6-3 6-4.
In what was their first meeting on the ATP tour, Rune overcame the No. 3 seed who looked fatigued after a lengthy incident-filled match with Alexander Zverev on Thursday evening.
After winning the quarter-final clash in one hour and 17 minutes, Rune - whose career best result in Monte Carlo was the second round before this year - will play Jannik Sinner in the last four.
"It wasn't easy for sure," Rune said reflecting on the win against arguably the ATP tour's most in-form player in 2023.
"It's actually my first time playing him in a real match, but we practice together and I have huge respect for everything he has done.
"It was not easy to stop him but I'm happy I managed to do it. This court... it's very nice to play here.
"His serve is huge and he can hit every target. It's very faultless. When it's in and on the line there is nothing you can do. You just have to accept it and try to see what chance you can get and see if you can take it."
Rune took the first break in the opening set with a forehand winner at the net to move into a commanding 3-1 lead. At 5-2 down, Medvedev whacked a ball against the back wall in frustration before Rune wrapped up a confident first set in 34 minutes.
Rune hit eight winners in the opener compared to Medvedev's three with the Russian unable to even register a break point.
In the second set, Rune went a break up to take a 2-1 lead when Medvedev hit a looping forehand wide, but an unforced error from the Dane at the net saw Medvedev break back immediately.
Rune kept pressuring, forcing the Russian to lengthy rallies, and the 19-year-old got the breakthrough he needed when Medvedev sliced a backhand into the net to go 5-4 up before comfortably serving out the match.
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