By Kingsley Elliot Kaye
The French crowd was relishing a groovy Saturday on the Philippe Chatrier cheering one of their most creative and loved players, Hugo Gaston, up against one of the rising stars of the Tour, 19-year-old Holgar Rune from Denmark.
But the first encounter between the two players never turned into a fierce contest, for in a one-way match Rune overwhelmed Gaston in every aspect of the game and won comfortably with a periodic score, 6-3 6-3 6-3.
He constantly outplayed him from the baseline with his superior power. Not only did he muzzle the Frenchman’s most celebrated weapon, the dropshot, but he also stole it. Key to all was his position on court, in the nearabouts of the baseline so as to run round short-falling balls to drill inside-in and inside-out forehands, run down dropshots, and snatch all chances for aggression.
I was very focused on playing aggressive and I’m very happy with my level today. he makes you run a lot and is super talented. The sound of the ball was very good and I tried to hit as hard as I could. My plan was to play aggressive because you know how it is when Hugo has the time. Rune said during his on-court interview with Alex Corretja.
The match got off to a nervy start with players swapping a break. Rune risked losing service a second time when he conceded two break points in the third game, but he came back to hold. In the following game he worked his way into three break points and converted the third with an inside out forehand. His lead was extended to 4-1 lead by a dropshot.
He was bullying with his forehand and nimbly running round it. After earning another break he could have sealed a 6-1 but lost serve after a crafty crosscourt forehand passing shot by Gaston, one of his few magic touches in the set. However, end was just delayed and Rune closed it off 6-3.
In the second set Gaston sought greater anticipation, hitting faster returns and moving forward more frequently.
Rune’s accuracy was not affected by such changes of pace and he just went on dictating with his forehand and stealing drop shots with his backhand.
He took an early break in the third game. Always moving well, landing his shots deep.
When in the fifth game Gaston set a few stylish points of his own, enticing his opponent to the net and lobbing him, Rune immediately responded by giving him a taste of his own medicine.
Gaston never really managed to establish a substantial pace in the rallies. Confident not to be caught off guard, Rune always kept his feet on the line, ready to seize the slightest chance to attack.
In the ninth game, after winning a rally in which Gaston had deployed his broadest array of tricks, Rune grabbed a second break and took the second set 6-3.
Gaston started the third set hitting with more power, then with more loft. He rose to break point but Rune was unperturbed and resorted to his usual inside out forehand to save and move on.
In the second game Gaston toyed with Rune in the first two points on serve, then Rune moved a further gear up, and snatched serve and held his own scoring an 8 point winning streak.
Gaston played his last card to unravel Rune’s gameplay by slicing the ball off both wings, but it was like firing blanks.
Serving for the match 5-1 up, Rune chose to barge into the net, too rashly. Gaston recovered one break, when Rune dumped a forehand into the net. The crowd cheered and carried their player through a positive service game.
But serving a second time for the match Rune didn’t tighten up and reached match points. Gaston saved the first with a winning return. But on the second his dropshot failed to climb over the net.
“It was a very complicated match. I’m really disappointed. I would have liked to do better,” Gaston admitted. “I had a hard time moving, too. I should have won several points in a row so I could get going. But apart from that first game, I didn’t play the way I wanted to.”
In the fourth round Rune will be taking on Stefanos Tsitsipas. A match to look forward to.
