Holger Rune overcame Yoshihito Nishioka 6-2 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 in hot weather conditions to reach the second round at the Australian Open in Melbourne.
Rune saved two break points in the third game before breaking twice in the fifth and eighth games to win the first set 6-2.
Rune saved two break points in the first game of the second set but he did not convert a break point in the second game. Nishioka earned a break in the fifth game to seal the second set 6-4.
Both players earned only one break point in the third set. Nishioka saved a set point to hold for 5-5 before pushing Rune to two deuces. Neither of them converted them and the set was decided by the tie-break.
Six of ten points in the tie-break went against serve. Rune earned a mini-break to take a 2-1 lead in the tie-break. Nishioka pulled back on serve for 2-3. Rune won four the next five points with three mini-breaks and hit a forehand winner to clinch the tie-break 7-3.
Rune started the fourth set with a decisive break in the first game and held his serve comfortably without facing in the set to close out the match in 1 hour and 29 minutes with a love hold.
Rune draws level to 1-1 in his two head-to-head matches against Nishioka.
The Danish player set up a second round match against Arthur Cazaux, who beat Laslo Djere in five sets.
“It was a very important set. It was back and forth. He had his chances. I had my chances. It was a key set for who got the lead in the match. I am happy that I got it, but I was going to fight anyway. I am just happy to play some very good tennis at the end”, said Rune.
Rune finished runner-up to Grigor Dimitrov in the final of the Brisbane International in the first tournament of the 2024 season.
