Underarm serves and final-set tiebreaks: Rune outlasts Davidovich Fokina in Wimbledon thriller

Holger Rune has come through a seesaw five-set match in the third round of Wimbledon 2023 to beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3, 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (8) on Saturday afternoon

Holger Rune, Wimbledon 2023 – © Chryslene Caillaud / Panoramic

Bren Gray

July 8, 2023

Wimbledon •Third round • completed

See draw

A. Davidovich FokinavsH. Rune

It was a Saturday night full of drama on No.3 Court, as sixth seed Holger Rune went the distance against 31st seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the pair’s third round encounter at Wimbledon 2023.

Rune came up clutch when it was required, fighting his way back from 6-2 down in the final set tiebreak to win 10-8 in just under four hours, 6-3, 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (8). The win sees Rune move into the last 16 of Wimbledon at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, where he’ll face the winner of the match between American Frances Tiafoe, the No 10 seed, and Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, the No 21 seed, next.

Here’s how the match unfolded on day six of Wimbledon 2023.

A seesaw affair on No.3 Court

The third round match between Holger Rune and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina did not disappoint fans who had tickets to the No.3 Court on Saturday afternoon, with both seeds bringing a high level of tennis.

What resulted was a seesaw affair that saw Rune gain an early lead, before Davidovich Fokina fought his way back to wrestle a 2-1 set lead, with the match ultimately ending in a fifth set tiebreak.

Rune drew first blood in the seventh game of the first set, breaking the Spaniard’s serve to go up 4-3. The Dane then drove home his advantage by holding serve and breaking again to close out the opening set 6-3.

Davidovich Fokina was quick to strike back, however, breaking Rune in the third game of the second set. While the 20-year-old was able to level the scores at 3-3, Davidovich Fokina would gain another break the following game, and hold on for a 6-4 set to level the match at 1-1.

Two more breaks in the third set saw the 31st seed go up 2-1 sets, before Rune came out firing to take the fourth set at 6-4 and force a decider.

– 2 Match Points saved by Rune 🛡️
– Underarm serve at 8-8(!!) by ADF in deciding set tiebreak 🤯
– Rune from 5-8 down to winning 10-8 💪
– 3 hours 59 minutes long 🥵

This match had it all 🤩 #Wimbledon | @Wimbledon

pic.twitter.com/meXz1SekT6
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 8, 2023

Rune stands up under pressure in final tiebreaker

In the fifth set, the match remained on serve for 12 games, leading to a 10-point tiebreaker to determine a victor.

It was Alejandro Davidovich Fokina who took the early initiative, racing out to a 4-1 and then 6-2 lead to go within sight of the finish line in this third round match. However, as he’s done time and time again in his short career, Holger Rune found a way to pull himself back from the brink.

Regaining two mini-breaks, Rune fought to 6-5 and looked to have all the momentum heading into the change of ends. A series of tight points saw Davidovich Fokina again move to an 8-5 advantage, before Rune held serve and leveled the breaker at 8-8.

Then, perhaps the biggest brain-fade of Wimbledon 2023 so far saw Davidovich Fokina attempt an underarm serve at 8-8 in the final set tiebreak. Rune quickly read the tactic and dispatched the shot for a forehand winner, bringing up match point.

The Dane only required one chance, closing out the match with a roar of adrenaline and relief to move into the round of 16.

Rune quietly moving through the draw at Wimbledon 2023

In the previous rounds of The Championships, the 20-year-old Dane won against wildcard George Loffhagen (7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-2) and Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena (6-3, 7-6 (3), 6-4).

Davidovich Fokina, ranked No 34, won against French wildcard Arthur Fils (7-6 (3), 6-1, 6-2) and Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp (6-1, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3) earlier in the tournament.

London (Grand Slam), other third-round results (All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, grass, GBP 16.077.000, most recent results first):