In yet another gruelling contest at this year’s French Open, Alexander Zverev showed incredible fitness and mental resilience to finally overcome stern resistance from thirteenth seed Holger Rune in four hours and eleven minutes to reach the quarter finals where he will play Alex de Minaur.
In a match containing a staggering 120 net approaches from both players (73 Zverev, 47 Rune) and 121 winners (61 Zverev, 60 Rune) along with a combined 42 drop shots, it was the 6’ 6” tall German who came through in five sets 4-6, 6-1, 5-7, 7-6, 6-2, aided by a magnificent 76% of points won on first serve.
After the match Zverev spoke on court and was full of praise for his younger opponent: “Wow, what a match to be honest. Holger is an unbelievable player, a young talent, you’re going to see him for fifteen, maybe twenty years here on this beautiful court so credit to him. He has been playing unbelievable tennis this week. I am lucky to be through.”
The pair had played just once before with Rune winning easily on the clay courts in Munich two years ago. World number four Zverev survived a five-set thriller against Tallon Griekspoor in the previous round and was 4-1 down in the fifth, while Rune came through in straight sets against Jozef Kovalik.
The opening set was simply a warm up for the drama that was to follow. Play went with serve in the until the fifth game when Zverev was broken after an unforced error, and 21-year-old Rune held well with 68% first serves won and he took a one set lead.
But Zverev has serious clay court pedigree, having won the Italian Open in the lead up to Roland Garros and has reached the semi-finals here for the last three years (losing to Stefanos Tsitsipas, Rafael Nadal, and Casper Ruud). He instantly hit back in the second set by breaking Rune three times to level up the contest at a set all.
After trading breaks at the start of the third set Rune, who has amassed nearly $9m in prize money already in his young career, found himself 15-40 down when serving at 5-5. Thanks to some clutch tennis, the gutsy Dane held firm to push ahead 6-5.
World number thirteen Rune, who reached the quarter finals in 2022 and 2023, losing to Ruud both times, started the next game well with a forehand winner, and on the following point Zverev’s final forehand clipped the top of the net tape but fell back on his side. He then dumped a forehand volley into the net to go 0-40 down and suddenly it was Rune who found himself with set points when only moments before he was the one in trouble.
And then followed the rally of the match – a 39-stroke masterclass of baseline tennis where both players pushed themselves to the limits, and when Rune hooked a forehand wide the crowd gave both the players a deserving standing ovation. Unfortunately for Zverev however, in the next rally he missed an easy forehand volley by miles and threw the set away. Rune, who has renewed his relationship with renowned French coach Patrick Mouratoglou, was now two sets to one up and in control of proceedings having won eight of the last points.
Zverev broke early in the fourth but was unable to capitalize and handed back the initiative. He broke again in the crucial seventh game when Rune lost the point on a backhand error and Zverev was ahead once more. But he lost serve when serving for the set and the players headed into a tie-break. Although Rune was on a remarkable streak of twelve straight wins in a tie-breakers, he played poorly and ranted and raved at his errors while Zverev raced to a 6-1 lead, winning it two points later. Rune immediately went off court to cool off while Zverev was soon up bouncing around on the baseline ready to serve.
With three and a half hours on the clock, the fifth set began in a cool stadium with half the crowd under blankets. Zverev had won nine five-setters alone at Roland Garros, and surely fancied his chances while the big question for Rune was whether he could refocus and get back on track.
Zverev broke serve early to go 2-1 ahead, and once more at 5-2 up to end the thrilling contest. Zverev now goes on to face Alex de Minaur after he caused the shock of the day in beating fifth seed Daniil Medvedev.
“I’m proud to be in the quarter finals,” said Zverev. “I have played a total of eight and a half hours in the last three days. I need to recover and do everything possible to be ready for the next match because obviously the tournament doesn’t stop here and I want to continue.”
