Rune On A Roll: #NextGenATP Star Ousts Karatsev In Monte Carlo

Over the weekend Holger Rune did double-duty, completing his title run at the Sanremo Challenger while qualifying for the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters less than an hour’s drive away. The confidence is showing in the #NextGenATP Dane’s play.

Rune defeated Aslan Karatsev 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-3 after two hours and 33 minutes on Tuesday to reach the second round of the ATP Masters 1000 event.

“Eight solid matches in eight days and now we continue to [the] second round of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters,” Rune wrote on Instagram.

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The World No. 79, who gained 12 spots in the ATP Rankings following his ATP Challenger Tour victory last week, saved seven of the 10 break points he faced against Karatsev. He will next face fourth seed Casper Ruud, with the winner to face former World No. 3 Grigor Dimitrov, who rallied past Serbian Dusan Lajovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 on Tuesday.

One year ago, Ruud defeated Rune 6-2, 6-1 in Monte Carlo. But Rune has an opportunity to earn his revenge against the Norwegian and claim his first Top 10 win.

The 18-year-old Rune is one of two teens inside the world’s Top 100, with the other being recent Miami Open presented by Itau champion Carlos Alcaraz. Both competed in last year’s Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan.