The National Times - Rune shocks Medvedev to reach Indian Wells ATP final

Rune shocks Medvedev to reach Indian Wells ATP final


Rune shocks Medvedev to reach Indian Wells ATP final
Rune shocks Medvedev to reach Indian Wells ATP final / Photo: © AFP

Denmark's Holger Rune beat Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-4 to reach the Indian Wells ATP Masters final on Saturday, denying the Russian world number six a third straight trip to the title match.

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Rune, ranked 13th, snapped a seven-match losing streak in semi-finals and will face either two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz or Britain's Jack Draper on Sunday.

In a rematch of last year's quarter-finals, the 21-year-old Rune showed admirable discipline against the Medvedev's vaunted defense, sticking in the rallies and keeping the Russian off balance with a variety of shots while making judicious use of his powerful forehand.

After an early exchange of breaks in the opening set, Rune managed to grind out a key hold for 4-4, saving one break point in a game that went to deuce six times and lasted nearly 11 minutes.

He gained the decisive break for a 6-5 lead and pocketed the set when his rolling backhand drew another error from Medvedev.

The second set was a more straightforward affair after Rune broke Medvedev at love for a 2-1 lead.

After two nervy points as he served for the match, Rune rallied from 0-30 down and punctuated the victory with a forehand winner.

Rune, whose ascent has slowed since he burst on the scene in 2022 with a victory over Novak Djokovic in the Paris Masters final, reached his first tour-level final since Brisbane in January of 2024.

W.Baxter--TNT