Swiss Indoors: Rune passes Baez test, keeps hope of title defence alive

Holger Rune, the top seed, reached the quarter-finals of the Swiss Indoors by defeating Argentinian Sebastian Baez 7-6 (2), 6-1 at the Halle Saint-Jacques in Basel on Thursday evening.

The win means that for the first time since Wimbledon, Rune has won back to back matches. Having recently linked up with Boris Becker as coach, the Dane will be looking for a deep run here in the event that he won last year, if he’s to have any chance of making the Nitto ATP Finals.

Rune, ranked No 6, will face Argentinian Tomas Martin Etcheverry next.

The 20-year-old Dane won against Serb Miomir Kecmanovic (1-6, 7-5, 6-3) in the previous round of the Basel tournament, while Baez, ranked No 29, beat Australian qualifier Christopher O’Connell (6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-3).

Basel ATP500, other second-round results (Halle Saint-Jacques, EUR 2.196.000, most recent results first):

• Botic van de Zandschulp vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime
• Dominic Stricker (WC) beat Casper Ruud (2): 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (1)
• Ugo Humbert beat Nicolas Jarry (7): 7-6 (3), 7-6 (4)
• Alexander Shevchenko (Q) beat Taylor Fritz (3): 6-7 (7), 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5)
• Tallon Griekspoor beat Alex De Minaur (5): 6-4, 6-3
• Tomas Martin Etcheverry beat Andy Murray: 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2
• Hubert Hurkacz (4) beat Jan-Lennard Struff: 6-1, 6-4