Holger Rune saves match point, stuns Taylor Fritz at BNP Paribas Open

INDIAN WELLS, Calif.—Holger Rune pulled off a Houdini comeback at the 2024 BNP Paribas Open, rallying from match point down to shock 2022 champion Taylor Fritz, 2-6, 7-6 (2), 6-3.

"It means a lot to win these kind of matches," Rune said in his post-match press conference. "It gives me opportunity to play another match tomorrow against a great opponent."

Seeded No. 7 in the desert, Rune played his best tennis on the brink of defeat against the No. 12 seed, completing the men's last-eight line-up and reaching his first Sunshine Swing quarterfinal in one hour and 56 minutes on Stadium 1 Court.

Fritz last played Rune last spring in Miami, where he defeated Rune in straight sets, but the young Dane, aged 20, nonetheless came into the match as the higher-ranked player after reaching two Masters 1000 finals and two Grand Slam quarterfinals in 2023.

At 26, Fritz has enjoyed a solid start to 2024, reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and winning his seventh ATP title in Delray Beach last month. Into the fourth round without dropping a set, he made quick work of No. 19 seed Sebastian Baez, dropping just four games to book the clash with Rune, who got a walkover in his first match and dug out of a second-set tiebreaker to defeat Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets on Monday.

The start of their match was similarly tense as the two traded service holds through the first five games, but Fritz broke the match wide open with a break and reeled off the next four games to put himself up a set.

Rune looked to restore order when he held to open the second set and made a strong push on Fritz’s serve at two games apiece. Facing break points for the first time in the match, Fritz saved both with some audacious aggression to keep Rune on the back foot.

"Actually in the middle of the second set I start to play better," Rune recalled. "My serve, had some easier service games in a way and I was pushing him a bit more in his serve in my return games. I feel like I was striking the ball better, feeling more comfortable with my movements out there."

Serving to stay in the contest, Rune saved match point with an impressive serve and turned the tables in the ensuing tiebreaker, racing through the first four points and forcing a forehand error from Fritz to level the match.

"After I saved the match point, I gained some confidence. I even think from being down 5-4 I still believed in myself. I just lost focus quickly, and that's why he got the match points in that service game. Then after that I was close to break him. He held, and then played a very good tiebreak."

Rune maintained his momentum in the third, scoring the lone break of the set and thundering over the finish line with a forehand winner.

Awaiting the Dane in the last eight is 2023 finalist Daniil Medvedev, who defeated Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets earlier in the afternoon.

"It's going to be an interesting match," Rune said. "We played each other twice on clay courts. It's going to be first meeting on a hard court. I'm excited. He's a great opponent. Different kind of player than many others. Again, he has a big serve like Fritz has, as well. Yeah, I'm just going to believe in myself and play my game."