Holger Rune overcame Giovanni Mpetchi Perricard 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 6-3 after 2 hours and 30 minutes to reach his third ATP Masters 1000 quarter final of the season in Shanghai.
Rune leads 2-1 in his head-to-head matches against Mpetchi Perricard.
Rune reached his 11th Masters 1000 quarter final, becoming the third player born in 2000 or after to achieve this feat. The Danish player won 15 points more than Mpetchi Perricard. He saved all three break points he faced and converted two of his seven break points. Mpetchi Perricard fired 51 winners and 38 unforced errors.
Rune held five service games and earned his first break in the opening set. Mpetchi Perricard saved two set points on serve at 3-5 before Rune served out the first set 6-4 with a hold at 30.
Mpetchi Perricard saved a break point in the fifth game of the second set. The Frenchman earned three break points at 4-3, but Rune saved them to hold serve for 4-4. Both players went on serve en route to the tie-break. Mpetchi Perricard closed out the tie-break 8-7 on his fifth set point to force the match to the decider.
Rune earned the decisive break in the second game and held five service games in the third set. He served out the win on his first match point in the ninth game.
“I managed to break him twice. He was serving very well today. He also showed his level against Fritz, he is a tough player to beat on this surface. The conditions were a bit better to play in today. I am very happy with my mindset today. I stayed in there every point and I was a bit frustrated I lost the second set but I came back and was determined for the third set and managed to hold my nerve”, said Rune.
