Holger Rune edged past Sumit Nagal 6-3 3-6 6-2 after 2 hours and 11 minutes to improve his win-loss record to 14-7 this year. The match was interrupted by rain on Wednesday evening and resumed, as Rune was leading 6-3 2-1.
Rune converted his second break point in the eighth game and held serve at love to close out the first set 6-3.
Rune broke in the first game of the second set to open up a 2-0 lead before the match was halted by rain at 2-1. Nagal converted his fourth break point in the fourth game to draw level to 2-2. The Indian player broke for the second time in the eighth game to win the second set 6-3. Rune made eleven unforced errors, including two double faults in the second set.
Rune earned an early break in the second game to take a 2-0 lead of the third set. Nagal broke straight back in the third game and held his serve to draw level to 2-2. Rune broke for the second time in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead. The Danish player held serve at 15 before breaking for the third time on his first match point in the ninth game.
Rune will face this year’s Miami Open Grigor Dimitrov in the third round later today. Kecmanovic broke serve at love in the third set to take a 2-1 lead. Dimitrov converted his third break-back point to draw level to 3-3. Dimitrov broke for the second time in the 10th time to seal the first set 6-4.
Dimitrov was leading Miomir Kecmanovic 6-4 2-1 before rain halted the match. As the match resumed on Thursday evening Dimitrov broke serve in the eighth game to take a 5-3 lead. The Bulgarian player served out the second set 6-3 on his first match point.
Dimitrov and Rune have played three times in the past. Dimitrov leads 2-1 in his three head-to-head matches. Rune beat Dimitrov 3-6 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 in the fourth round at Wimbledon 2023. Dimitrov beat Rune twice in the second round in Beijing (6-3 7-5) and in the final of the Brisbane International last January by the scoreline of 7-6 (7-5) 6-4.
