French Open 2022
Off and Rune-ing
Danish teenager upsets 14th seed Shapovalov in first round; says he is 'improving every day'
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PARIS • Denmark's Holger Rune reminded Roland Garros yesterday that Carlos Alcaraz is not the only teenager dreaming of the title.
The 19-year-old, just a week older than the highly rated Alcaraz of Spain, marked his main draw debut with a stunning 6-3, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) dismissal of 14th-seeded Canadian Denis Shapovalov in the first round of the French Open.
"I'm really positive and working hard every day to get better. This is what you work for every day, to be able to play the biggest tournaments," the baby-faced teenager with a bright smile said.
"You know, I'm super happy and pleased to be in this position right now, to be able to have chances against these guys... My first title in Munich was a huge step forward in my career.
"I'm improving every day. I'm trying to improve 1 per cent every day to you know, always to do things a little better than the day before."
Rune, the boys' champion here in 2019 and a former world junior No. 1, entered Paris at a career-high No. 40, having started last year outside of the top 400.
In the current clay season, he is now 11-6 and showed that he can beat the big guns like world No. 3 and Olympic champion Alexander Zverev en route to his first career title in Munich last month.
Yesterday's win over Shapovalov was Rune's second against a top-20 player.
The Dane will next take on Swiss Henri Laaksonen, who beat Spaniard Pedro Martinez 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (7-1) in the first round.
Alcaraz has won a tour-leading four titles this season with three coming on clay, and he was particularly impressive as he defeated Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Zverev in Madrid.
But fellow rising star Rune should not be overlooked, Shapovalov warned.
The Canadian admitted he had only himself to blame after he committed 53 unforced errors. He said: "I didn't really show up today but Holger played great tennis."
2019
Year Holger Rune won the French Open boys' title at Roland Garros.
2
This is the Dane's second win over a top-20 player, after beating world No. 3 Alexander Zverev in Munich last month en route to his first Tour title.
53
Unforced errors committed by Denis Shapovalov in his loss to Rune.
9/13
Net points won by Rune yesterday.
While Shapovalov struggled, world No. 2 Daniil Medvedev showed no signs of discomfort from his recent hernia operation, kicking off his campaign with a comfortable 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Argentinian Facundo Bagnis.
The US Open champion played his first clay event of the year last week in Geneva after a two-month break but lost in the opening round to Frenchman Richard Gasquet.
Clay courts have not been Medvedev's strong suit - he lost in the opening round on his first four trips to Paris - but he turned around his dismal record by reaching the quarter-finals last year.
"I love Roland Garros, especially since last year," the Russian said.
"Before that I don't know if I actually loved it, given that I was out on the Sunday when the tournament was actually starting on the Monday. But now it's Tuesday and I'm still here.
"I've been well after my surgery, I didn't think I would be able to play on clay.
"But with the help of the doctors and the physios I've been able to be back on my feet to even play a match on clay last week and I'm 100 per cent ready to play Roland Garros."
Medvedev will next meet Laslo Djere of Serbia, who beat Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, for a place in the third round.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
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