WHAT HAPPENED: Throughout his career, the US Open has not been Holger Rune's favorite place to play.
The Dane had lost in the first round three of his four previous visits to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, including back-to-back early exits the last two years.
But on Monday, the No. 11 seed left the Grandstand in the second round in a more positive mindset for the first time since 2022, after holding off Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, 6-3, 7-6(4), 7-6(2).
“So nice to start the US Open this way,” Rune told the fans after the three-hour match. “I still have yet to make a good, good result here. I really want to play well in New York.”
Both players flashed stretches of strong play and then struggled to find some rhythm and consistency in the sometimes-swirling wind on an otherwise glorious late summer afternoon for the players and fans.
The 70-minute middle set was pivotal. In the tiebreak Rune raced to a 4-0. Then van de Zandschulp stiffened, claiming a 28-shot rally that left Rune gasping for air and stretching to get to 2-4. Rune missed two forehands and suddenly it was 4-4.
Just as abruptly, it was Rune’s turn to reel off the next three points, beginning with a double fault from the Dutchman. He closed out the set with two forehand volley winners to take the tiebreak 7-4.
The drama was not over yet. On two service breaks, Rune took a 4-0 lead in the final set. Once more, van de Zandschulp clawed his way back to even the set at 4-4 and then push it into another tiebreak. Again Rune took a comfortable 4-0, stretched it to 6-1 and on his second match point cracked a backhand winner to take the tiebreak 7-2.
“I had to stay really strong and managed to play two very good tiebreakers,” Rune said.
WHAT IT MEANS: It has been a strong 2025 season for the 22 year-old as he looks to climb back into the top 10 in the world rankings. He beat world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz to win the Barcelona title, reached the Indian Wells final and the fourth round at both the Australian and French Opens. But the former world No. 1 junior is still looking to get past the quarterfinals in a Grand Slam.
MATCH POINT: Rune had the medical staff out in between the second and third sets looking at his abdominal region. A back injury forced him out of the Washington tournament last month. Will any possible injury cause more problems for him now?
