After a thrilling contest that lasted over two hours, American tennis star Reilly Opelka has triumphed over Holger Rune to secure his place in the third round of the Miami Open – a milestone he has not achieved in a Masters 1000 event for over three years.
The match was a pulsating one that saw Opelka recover from a break in the initial set to deliver 13 steady holds, ultimately culminating in a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 victory. His resilience was on full display as he seized three consecutive points at a critical juncture in the tie break, tipping the scales in his favor and setting the stage for his progression to the last 32.
Rune, who had previously impressed in the Indian Wells semi-final, was unable to replicate his performance in Miami. The young Danish star faltered at the decisive moments, leading to his early departure from the tournament. This premature exit cost him the opportunity to vie for a top-10 spot against formidable opponents like Andrey Rublev and Daniil Medvedev.
The match was a closely contested affair, with Opelka managing to clinch six points more than Rune. Despite a tough battle, the American outshone Rune in the second serve. The game was rife with break opportunities, with Opelka saving one out of two and Rune staving off two out of three to remain in the game.
Opelka’s performance was marked by a display of power and precision, as he unleashed 42 winners and committed 41 unforced errors. He dominated the service winners 44-38 and limited Rune to 17 direct points and 24 mistakes. This display of skill and strategy kept Opelka in step with Rune, eventually enabling him to emerge victorious.
The first set of the match saw Rune serve impressively, earning an early lead with a break. However, a routine forehand error in the fifth game cost him dearly. Opelka seized this opportunity to turn the tide, converting the second break point with a forehand crosscourt winner.
Opelka continued his momentum into the second set, maintaining pressure on Rune with five comfortable holds. A decisive backhand winner in the opening game and a powerful return in the next one set the tone for the rest of the set. Opelka’s booming backhand return winner earned him a break, and a strong serve shortly after extended his lead to 3-0.
Rune, however, did not back down easily. Despite facing difficulties with his initial shot in the sixth game, he managed to save two break points and stay in the game. But Opelka’s consistent performance, marked by an ace and an unreturned serve, wrapped up the set 6-3, forcing the match into a deciding set.
The final set was a tense one, offering no leeway for the returners. Both players held their serves until the tie break, where Opelka’s ace and Rune’s deep return set the stage for an extended rally. Opelka eventually prevailed with a backhand down the line winner, leveling the score at 2-2. Despite Rune’s request for a video review following a distracting light incident, the point was not repeated.
The Dane managed to regain focus and take two points on his serve at 3-4, moving a step closer to victory. But Opelka was not to be outdone. He delivered another powerful serve to even the score at 5-5 and generated a match point with a forehand crosscourt winner. A valiant backhand down the line return winner from Opelka clinched him the match, propelling him into the third round of the Miami Open in grand style.
