ATP roundup: Holger Rune rallies in Brisbane opener

Field Level Media|published: Mon 1st January, 11:09 2024

Aug 9, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Holger Rune (DEN) hits a ball to Marcos Giron (not pictured) at Sobeys Stadium. credits: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Top-seeded Holger Rune avoided a New Year's Day upset with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 win over Australian Max Purcell in the first round of the Brisbane International on Monday in Australia.

Rune finished with 12 aces and 31 winners against 15 unforced errors. At 2-2 in the decisive set and trailing 15-40, Rune rallied for the first of two straight service breaks to close out the match.

Russia's Roman Safiullin posted a 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-3 upset of No. 3 seed Ben Shelton, and No. 2 seed Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria eliminated Britain's Andy Murray 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.

Hong Kong Tennis Open

Chinese teenager Juncheng Shang held on for a 6-7 (5), 6-3, 7-6 (8) upset of seventh-seeded Serbian Laslo Djere in the opening round.

The 18-year-old wild-card entry saved two match points in the third-set tiebreak before closing out the win in just under three hours. Up next is No. 2 seed Karen Khachanov of Russia.

Pavel Kotov of Russia defeated Portugal's Nuno Borges 6-2, 6-4 and Finland's Emil Ruusuvuori outlasted Benjamin Bonzi of France 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-1. Botic Van De Zandschulp of the Netherlands was a 7-5, 6-1 winner against Japan's Shintaro Mochizuki.

—Field Level Media

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