Danish teenager Rune upends Tsitsipas in Stockholm to win second ATP Tour title
The Danish teenager added the crown to the one he won in Munich earlier this year
Holger Rune holding Stockholm 2022 trophy | © Tennis TV / Tennis Majors
Danish teenager Holger Rune added another big-name victim – and a second career ATP Tour title – on Sunday as he beat top seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-4 to win the Stockholm Open.
The 19-year-old hit 20 winners and just 13 unforced errors in an almost flawless performance, saving the only break point he faced and breaking Tsitsipas once in each set for victory.
“It was an unbelievable match from my side,” Rune said. “I knew it was going to be difficult, but I just tried to stick to the game plan. I had to play my best tennis today and it was good that I could find the level. I am super happy.
“It was very close to perfection. I was making a lot of returns and playing pretty well behind my serve. Stefanos is an amazing player, who always makes it difficult. It was a super fun match to play.”
It’s his second Tour title, having won his first in Munich earlier this year.
Title won with Mouratoglou there for first time
Rune’s victory – achieved in his first week since Patrick Mouratoglou joined his coaching team for the rest of the year – will move him up to No 24 in the rankings, achieving one of the goals he set himself at the start of the year, a year he began outside the top 100.
The teenager dropped two sets all week – one to Cameron Norrie in the quarters and another in a hard-fought win over Alex de Minaur in the semis.
He’ll now head straight to Basel for the Swiss Indoors, where he will again face De Minaur, this time in round one.
For, Tsitsipas, who beat Maxime Cressy, Mikael Ymer and Emil Ruusuvuori to reach the final, it was a fifth defeat in seven finals this year. The Greek is still world No5 after this week.
“I’m fed up with the finalist trophies I am having over and over again, so I thank the tournament for not giving one here,” he said, smiling, before congratulating Rune.
“Congratulations to Holger for stealing that from me, and his team who make a really good job, it’s well deserved for today and the future to come. We trained together at the Mouratoglou Academy. You played incredibly well, keep it up, stay humble and keep it going.”
