Holger Rune parlayed a massive stroke of fortune deep in a third-set tie-break to reach the semi-finals at the Swiss Indoors Basel Friday and boost his chances of remaining within the cut for the Nitto ATP Finals.
Having just squandered two match points against Tomas Martin Etcheverry to allow the Argentine back onto even terms at 6-all in the deciding-set tie-break, Rune benefitted from a dead netcord from a heavy forehand strike that left Etcheverry no chance of reaching.
The World No. 32 dropped his racquet in disgust and on the following point double faulted to hand a 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(6) victory to the 20-year-old Dane, who currently occupies the final spot in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race for a place in Turin.
"It was super difficult and Tomas has played great all tournament and had a super season. It was a fun match to play," Rune said following his two-hour, 41-minute win. "I was super lucky at the end, I have never had as much luck in my life. Of course I am happy to win but I feel for him as I know how it feels myself when these kind of things happen. I am happy with my level. It was a tough match physically, so I am proud of myself."
Rune is eighth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin on 3,280 points, 225 points clear of ninth-placed Taylor Fritz, who lost in the second round in Basel. Rune can jump to seventh if he wins his second title of the season this week after seventh-placed Alexander Zverev fell to Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals in Vienna.
Rune, who arrived in Basel having won just one of his past nine matches, will next meet Felix Auger-Aliassime or qualifier Alexander Shevchenko, who upset Fritz in Basel.
Having just squandered two match points against Tomas Martin Etcheverry to allow the Argentine back onto even terms at 6-all in the deciding-set tie-break, Rune benefitted from a dead netcord from a heavy forehand strike that left Etcheverry no chance of reaching.
The World No. 32 dropped his racquet in disgust and on the following point double faulted to hand a 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(6) victory to the 20-year-old Dane, who currently occupies the final spot in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race for a place in Turin.
"It was super difficult and Tomas has played great all tournament and had a super season. It was a fun match to play," Rune said following his two-hour, 41-minute win. "I was super lucky at the end, I have never had as much luck in my life. Of course I am happy to win but I feel for him as I know how it feels myself when these kind of things happen. I am happy with my level. It was a tough match physically, so I am proud of myself."
Rune is eighth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin on 3,280 points, 225 points clear of ninth-placed Taylor Fritz, who lost in the second round in Basel. Rune can jump to seventh if he wins his second title of the season this week after seventh-placed Alexander Zverev fell to Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals in Vienna.
Rune, who arrived in Basel having won just one of his past nine matches, will next meet Felix Auger-Aliassime or qualifier Alexander Shevchenko, who upset Fritz in Basel.