Top seed Rune rallies in Basel after horror start / Photo: Hector RETAMAL - AFP
-
Rene Eyre Revisits Autobiographical Performance 'Say A Little Prayer' in London
-
London Museum Granted 24/7 License Ahead of November Opening
-
UAE's HCT Holds Record Graduation and Announces Major Training Expansion
-
Dana White Confirms Flight to Washington for Trump Meeting on Press Secretary Role
-
NASA Awards $10B Lunar Contract Framework to SpaceX, Blue Origin
-
Dengue Fever Expands Into High Himalayas as Climate Change Warms Nepal
-
Katy Perry Tells Fans Ex-Husband Russell Brand 'Should Be in Jail' During UK Concert
-
IoT Refrigerator Hacks Disrupt Blood Labs and Supermarkets Across Europe and US
-
South African election results renew debate over identity-based voting
-
Post-election pressures complicate US and Israeli decisions on Iran
-
South African voters report smoother local election but declining IEC trust
-
UN members approve talks on treaty protocol against environmental crime
-
Dolly Parton museum and Nashville hotel open after singer’s death
-
Family-run West Sussex beach café prepares for first winter season
-
George and Amal Clooney attend New York political-comedy reading
-
CT scans reveal health and burial clues from Egypt’s Braided Lady mummy
-
British buyers pay substantial premiums for period-home appearance
-
Oxford faces complaints over lecturer’s classroom attire
-
Thomas Markle released to house arrest after child-abuse-image charge
-
Kyren Wilson and John Higgins reach International Championship snooker final
-
Dawn of War 4 developers chose Adeptus Mechanicus for tactical variety
-
New Zealand and Tonga meet for place in Rugby League World Cup final
-
Italy face unbeaten South Africa in Turin Nations Championship match
-
Reports of unsafe AI-toy responses renew calls for child-safety rules
Top seed Rune rallies in Basel after horror start
Holger Rune performed under pressure for new coach Boris Becker on Tuesday, earning a 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 win over Miomir Kecmanovic to reach the second round of the Swiss Indoors.
The victory counted as revenge for the 20-year-old who lost to the Serb in his opening match as holder at the ATP event in Stockholm last week.
Six-time Grand Slam champion Becker returned from a lightning trip on Tuesday to the ATP event in Vienna in time to watch his young charge's impressive turnaround in their first in-person match together.
"The match was not so good in the beginning, but it ended in the best possible way," the sixth-ranked Rune said.
"I was able to raise my level and find my focus. I'm super-happy with how I managed my emotions."
Top seed Rune ended with 37 winners as he set up a second-round contest at the St Jakobshalle in Basel with Argentine Sebastian Baez.
Becker, who flew to Vienna for a conference on the fringes of the ATP event, is looking forward to a successful collaboration with Rune.
"It's an exciting (coaching) task because it's also an exciting time," the 55-year-old said.
"If (Holger) can put his emotions into positive use, nothing will stand in his way."
Rune is hanging onto the eighth and final position in the points race to the year-end ATP Finals next month in Turin; Basel entrants Taylor Fritz and Casper Ruud are right behind him in the standings with matches to play on Wednesday.
Rune said that after crashing in the opening set against Kecmanovic, he was able to turn his game around.
"I started believing in my shots, asking myself to remember what I'm capable of, trying to raise my level.
"I wanted to stay in the match and give myself a chance to play better.
Fourth seed Hubert Hurkacz stayed in the chase for a place in Turin with his 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 defeat of Dusan Lajovic.
One of the bigger servers in the game who stands provisional 11th in the points chase, produced 18 aces in a victory lasting 86 minutes,
"You've got to produce the results, focus on every point," this month's champion at the Shanghai Masters said.
"You've got to win matches and tournaments. I know how important these wins are for me."
Dominic Stricker sent a Swiss into the second round with his 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 defeat of Lebanese qualifier Benjamin Hassan, with the home player advancing in 91 minutes and saving all three break points he faced.
F.Qawasmeh--SF-PST
