Holger Rune has caught Matteo Berrettini’s attention ahead of the second round of Australian Open 2025.
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The Italian ace, after disposing of Cameron Norrie to advance on Tuesday, admitted to watching the last few points of Rune’s five-set win over China’s Zhang Zhizhen at Margaret Court Arena.
Berrettini is seven years Rune’s senior, but suffered losses to the young Dane at two Masters 1000 events in Cincinnati and Shanghai last year, which both recalled ahead of their next encounter at Melbourne Park.
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“Matteo is a great player,” Rune said. “I think it's obviously different conditions here. It's best-of-five sets. That's going to change a little bit.
“Last year, both three-set matches we played [were] definitely tight matches, and small things that made the result on my side.
“I'm looking forward to it now. Rest, recover, get ready. Look also into the statistic, where I can hurt him the most.”
Rune has a clean-cut aesthetic and baby-face that belies his gutsy determination on-court.
The 21-year-old overcame nerves and absorbed numerous aces from Zhang to claim a 4-6 6-3 6-4 3-6 6-4 victory in three hours and 10 minutes on Tuesday.
It was Rune’s fifth career five-set win at a Grand Slam, with Kenneth Carlsen the only other Danish player to boast more in the Open Era.
Zhang started strong, with powerful strokes from the baseline forcing his opponent to move. But Rune fought back, unperturbed by the duration of his opening match, or momentary interruptions from mobile phones ringing in the stands
“It was a long match and a lot of different momentum shifts. I also think first set [I] was a bit rusty, but then the next two sets I was playing well, I was on him a lot,” Rune said.
“The fourth he stepped up, I lost focus quickly, and then in the fifth it’s all about who fights the most.
“I played some good tennis when it mattered. Good to start the tournament with a long match. I think you get a lot of rallies, you get a lot of rhythm. I played a lot, so that's a nice feeling.
“Physically I know I'm going to recover for the next match, so that's not going to be a problem. Good to get in a rhythm again.”
Rune, who walked into a post-match press conference standing tall with hands in pockets, didn’t specify where he believes he can hurt Berrettini, 28, who is motivated after being forced to withdraw from the AO last year due to injury.
“I remember in both sets I won the first set, then I wasn't able to close out the match,” Berrettini recalled of his last two encounters with Rune.
"Cincinnati was crazy fast. Not fast, but also, like, couldn't control the ball. So, I felt like really the match was decided by two points. Shanghai was a solid match. I think I got broken once in the second and once in the third. So, again, few points.
“This next one, I'm going to try to win it.
“He’s a great player. We’ve never played in a Slam, so it’s quite different, but at the same time I know it’s going to be a tough match.”
At ATP level, Rune holds a 3-1 record against Berrettini going in.