Rune saves match point against De Minaur to win Open Markal Bourg-de-Péage

Rune beat de Minaur on Sunday in the final of the Open Markal Bourg-de-Péage, an exhibition tournament held in France

Holger Rune at the 2022 Rolex Paris Masters (CHRYSLENE CAILLAUD/Panoramic)

December 12, 2022

In his first tournament since his victory at the Rolex Paris Masters, Holger Rune picked up another new trophy. The world No 11 was on hand last weekend for the Open Markal Bourg-de-Péage, an exhibition tournament held in the Rhône-Alpes region of France.

And the Dane beat Alexander Bublik on Saturday before upsetting defending champion Alex de Minaur on Sunday (5-7, 7-6, 6-4).

The Australian did come within one point of retaining his title, winning the first set and even grabbing a match point in the second-set tiebreak. But Rune saved it with a crosscourt backhand passing shot before finally winning the tiebreak and giving the crowd a deciding set.

The Dane, who had beaten the Australian in their first two meetings, both in 2022, was able to make it three by getting the better of his opponent in the third, winning 6-4. Champion of the fifth edition of the Open Markal Bourg-de-Péage, he succeeds Gilles Simon (2017, 2018), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (2019) and de Minaur (2021).