By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Monday, August 28, 2023
NEW YORK—Map quest couldn’t assist Holger Rune navigate the US Open first spherical.
Relegated to Courtroom No. 5, the fourth-seeded Rune was squeezed out of his US Open opener.
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Spaniard Robert Carballes Baena exploited 43 unforced errors from the disorientated Dane upsetting Rune 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in two hours, 42 minutes. Carballes Baena will face Aslan Karatsev in spherical two.
World No. 4 Rune, who defeated Carballes Baena en path to the Wimbledon quarterfinals final month, was bothered by a lower-back situation and sore knee and was seemingly irritated by being assigned to the smaller Courtroom No. 5.
“I imply, it is no drawback with the court docket. I simply did not count on to play on that court docket,” Rune informed the media afterward. “I really feel prefer it’s regular. I imply, as greatest as you get within the rating, it is extra, you recognize, the way you say, advantages you need to get with enjoying in higher situations. So I believe that is a standard method and it is also how ATP, like, it is how they do with all of the gamers.
“However they did not do it with me right here. That is clearly disappointing, however not going responsible the court docket on the loss. He performed very, very stable. Credit score to him.”
The 20-year-old Rune struggled to generate free factors on serve: he served two aces towards 4 double faults and confronted 14 break factors. The loss concludes a futile North American summer season hard-court season for Rune, who has gone 0-3 since his run to the Wimbledon quarterfinals shedding to Marcos Giron in Toronto and retiring from his Cincinnati opener after shedding the opening set to Mackenzie McDonald.
Over the weekend, Rune took a jab on the US Open bouncing him to the outer court docket posting a map of the USTA-Billie Jean King Nationwide Tennis Heart in a sarcastic social media commentary on his obscure court docket placement.
Usopen website map. In case yow will discover court docket 5, that is the place I play my first match Monday adopted by 11:00 @usopen #seeyou #lovemyfans #loveyoursupport pic.twitter.com/EfWkHJljLv
— Holger Rune (@holgerrune2003) August 26, 2023
“US Open website map. In case yow will discover court docket 5, that is the place I play my first match Monday,” Rune posted.
Afterward, the Paris Masters champion mentioned he was bothered by a left knee damage. Rune additionally mentioned he questioned match officers on his court docket task and was informed People obtain desire for stadium courts.
“In fact I attempted to get an evidence, and, I imply, clearly they mentioned what everyone knows, that they, you recognize, put the People on the massive court docket, which is completely fantastic,” Rune mentioned. “I imply, I am used to play rather a lot in France the place they do this. So I respect that 100%.
“That is not solely the case right here, that it is solely People enjoying on the massive courts. That card did not actually work. Then you definitely attempt to ask extra questions they usually do not reply you. It is just a little bit powerful.”
Displacement was disappointing for Rune, who contested quarterfinals in three of his final six Grand Slam appearances, however now finds himself one and carried out in New York.
“I imply, clearly we’re all disillusioned within the staff, I believe it is regular,” Rune mentioned. “It is the final Grand Slam of the yr. I performed a few of my worst tennis. It is disappointing.”
Photograph credit score: Matthew Calvis
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