Rune battles back to survive Navone scare in Madrid, Zverev advances

Holger Rune battled back from the brink on Friday at the Mutua Madrid Open, where he rallied from a set and a break down to overcome Argentine Mariano Navone 5-7, 7-6(2), 6-4 in a Madrid thriller.

The Dane trailed 5-7, 5-6 and was just two points from defeat in the second set. However, from 30/15 up, Navone hit two costly double faults, before Rune converted on his break point chance to level and force a tie-break. The 20-year-old upped his aggression in the tie-break, taking large cuts to level.

Rune then recovered from a dip from 5-1 up in the third set. After Navone closed to 4-5, the four-time tour-level titlist held firm on serve, saving a break point before eventually sealing victory on his fifth match point after two hours and 59 minutes.

Spot on 🎯@holgerrune2003 survives a close encounter against Navone 5-7 7-6(2) 6-4.@MutuaMadridOpen | #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/MTFd3WH25T

— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 26, 2024

Rune, who struck 38 winners, according to Infosys ATP Stats, let out a roar after sealing victory with a volley winner, taking in the embrace from the crowd.

The No. 12 player in the PIF ATP Rankings is 18-9 on the season. Rune has reached the final at the clay-court ATP Masters 1000 events in Monte-Carlo and Rome. He will continue the quest for his first trophy of the season in the third round against Tallon Griekspoor after the Dutchman beat Taro Daniel 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Navone reached tour-level finals on clay in Rio de Janeiro and Bucharest earlier this season and was competing at a career-high No. 41 this week. The 23-year-old played with confidence and quality against the Dane, showing great heart to save four match points before ultimately falling short.

Two-time Madrid champion Alexander Zverev continued his standout record at the ATP Masters 1000 event, defeating Croatian Borna Coric 6-3, 6-2 to reach the third round.

The German was dominant on serve throughout the 88-minute clash, not facing a break point to improve to 4-3 in the pair's Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

"I played quite well today," Zverev said. "I feel well. With him it can always goes both ways. He is extremely dangerous and a tough competitor. Historically someone I don't like playing. But I am happy today, winning in straight sets and happy to be in the next round."

Zverev holds a 22-4 tournament record, having lifted the trophy in 2018 and 2021. The fifth seed has never lost before the fourth round in the Spanish capital and will hope to continue that record against Denis Shapovalov in the third round. The Canadian Shapovalov beat Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6(3), 6-3.

Ugo Humbert maintained his impressive season with an opening-round win against Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp. The No. 14 in the PIF ATP Rankings, who is a two-time tour-level titlist in 2024, advanced 6-3, 6-3 after 80 minutes.

Humbert will meet last year’s finalist Jan-Lennard Struff after the German moved past Spaniard Jaume Munar 6-1, 7-5. Struff crushed 28 winners to triumph.