ATP's world no. 4, Holger Rune had a shocking start to the 2023 US Open, losing already in the first round to Roberto Carballes Baena.
Over the past few weeks, the young Dane struggled with injuries and health, and as a result, also his results. He was forced to retire at the most recent event in Cincinnati, and even though Rune was hopeful of recovering in time for the 2023 US Open, it apparently didn't happen.
In the first round of the competition, the 20-year-old took on world no. 63, Roberto Carballes Baena. But already before their match started, the Dane made headlines as he was seemingly unhappy with the court allocation, which saw him play on Court No. 5.
Prior to the match, Rune talked about it and said that certain officials always give him the worst courts, but once he stepped onto the court at Flushing Meadows, the world no. 4 had to forget any worries about the court allocation and focus only on his performance.
For Carballes Baena, who likes to play on clay, it was the first hard-court event since March, and despite Dane's health issues, he wasn't favoured. But already in the fifth game of the opening set, he got the break, and the Spaniard added one more later on, winning the opener 6-3.
But Rune showed his qualities and he fought for the match in the second set. After both players traded breaks in the opening two games, the youngster added one more, and that was sufficient to win the second set 6-4, and make sure there will be at least four sets played in the match.
And that was indeed the case, but not as the 20-year-old wanted it to be. He also struggled in the second set, and this time, it was his opponent who got two breaks of serve, while Rune got only one, as Carballes Baena led already 2-1 after winning the second set 6-3.
Rune was hopeful of turning the match around, but he simply couldn't as Carballes Baena proved to be too good on his own serve in the fourth set, and after adding two breaks of serve, it was clear that the Spaniard would emerge victorious. After two hours and 38 minutes, Roberto Carballes Baena took care of the biggest surprise of this year's US Open so far, beating world no. 4 Holger Rune 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
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