Shevchenko upsets Rune in Rotterdam for career-best win

Alexander Shevchenko has emerged as a big-hitting threat on the ATP Tour this past year. His rise hit new heights Thursday at the ABN AMRO Open.

The Kazakhstani downed World No. 7 Holger Rune 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 to book a quarter-final spot at the indoor ATP 500 in Rotterdam. It was the biggest win of Shevchenko’s career by Pepperstone ATP Ranking, eclipsing his victory against then-World No. 9 Taylor Fritz in Basel last October.

“[It’s the] best win in my career so far,” said Shevchenko after the match. “I had one against Taylor Fritz, it was that one [until now], but today is probably the best one. It tastes sweeter when I take revenge from the Brisbane match [against Rune].”

BIGGEST WIN OF HIS CAREER 🙌

Alexander Shevchenko defeats the No. 4 seed, Holger Rune, 6-4 1-6 6-3 to secure his place into the Rotterdam quarter-finals!@abnamroopen | #abnamroopen pic.twitter.com/saDUYgxi9t

— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 15, 2024

Rune had ousted Shevchenko in three sets in the pair’s maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head clash in Brisbane last month, and the Dane knew he was in for another tough day when Shevchenko clinched a decisive break of serve in the ninth game en route to the first set.

The third-seeded Rune responded emphatically in the second set but was unable to maintain his momentum into the decider. Shevchenko fired a return winner to convert the only break point of the set at 4-3, 30/40 and went on to serve out for a 96-minute triumph.

“I think I was more aggressive against him in the first set," said Shevchenko. "Then he stepped up his game really well, started to be more aggressive and go more to the net. That kind of tricked me.

“I think in the third set it was quite open. I think I got lucky in a way with the break point, and I think he was maybe a little bit the better player in the third set, but luck was on my side.”

The World No. 57 Shevchenko, who won 81 per cent (43/53) of points behind first serves against Rune, according to Infosys ATP Stats, will take on Grigor Dimitrov next. The sixth-seeded Bulgarian earlier downed Marton Fucsovics 6-3, 7-5 for his Tour-leading 12th ATP Tour win of the season.

Home favourite Tallon Griekspoor also notched the biggest win of his career by ranking on Thursday by holding his nerve to down World No. 8 Hubert Hurkacz 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 7-6(4). The Dutchman withstood 28 aces from Hurkacz, sending down 23 of his own as he pulled through for a thrilling two-hour, 34-minute triumph.

Griekspoor is now 13-1 on home soil since the start of 2023. He reached the semi-final in Rotterdam a year ago and lifted his second ATP Tour title on grass in ‘s-Hertogenbosch last June. He has also notched three Davis Cup singles wins at home across that period.

His next opponent at Rotterdam Ahoy will be Emil Ruusuvuori, who beat Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-3 to close Thursday's play.