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 Court 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 concern and sore knee and was seemingly aggravated by being assigned to the smaller Court No. 5.
“I mean, it’s no problem with the court. I just didn’t expect to play on that court,” Rune advised the media afterward. “I feel like it’s normal. I mean, as best as you get in the ranking, it’s more, you know, how you say, benefits you should get with playing in better conditions. So I think that’s a normal way and it’s also how ATP, like, it’s how they do with all the players.
“But they didn’t do it with me here. That’s obviously disappointing, but not going to blame the court on the loss. He played very, very solid. Credit 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 time hard-court season for Rune, who has gone 0-3 since his run to the Wimbledon quarterfinals dropping to Marcos Giron in Toronto and retiring from his Cincinnati opener after dropping 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 National Tennis Center in a sarcastic social media commentary on his obscure court docket placement.
Usopen website map. In case you’ll find 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 site map. In case you can find court 5, this is where 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 event officers on his court docket project and was advised Americans obtain desire for stadium courts.
“Of course I tried to get an explanation, and, I mean, obviously they said what we all know, that they, you know, put the Americans on the big court, which is totally fine,” Rune mentioned. “I mean, I’m used to play a lot in France where they do that. So I respect that 100%.
“That’s not only the case here, that it’s only Americans playing on the big courts. That card didn’t really work. Then you try to ask more questions and they don’t answer you. It’s a little bit tough.”
Displacement was disappointing for Rune, who contested quarterfinals in three of his final six Grand Slam appearances, however now finds himself one and finished in New York.
“I mean, obviously we are all disappointed in the team, I think it’s normal,” Rune mentioned. “It’s the last Grand Slam of the year. I played some of my worst tennis. It’s disappointing.”
Photo credit score: Matthew Calvis
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