Denmark’s Holger Rune recovered from a slow start against Brazil’s Thiago Seyboth Wild to win an entertaining tussle and book his place in the Wimbledon third round on Thursday.
The 21-year-old 15th seed dropped serve early on the way to losing the opening set but raised his game impressively, after that to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 6-2.
Rune, who reached the quarterfinals last year, will face French qualifier Quentin Halys next after he knocked out 21st seed Karen Khachanov in five sets.
Regarded as a player likely to one day challenge for a Grand Slam title, Rune did not let the unpredictable Seyboth Wild or a gusty wind on Court 18 throw him off balance.
He delighted fans, many perched on the sunny terrace overlooking one of Wimbledon’s most quirky courts, with his full repertoire of powerful groundstrokes and silky touch, drawing gasps with one incredible running backhand pass late on.
Seyboth Wild also contributed to the spectacle with some dazzling strokes of his own but was eventually outclassed.
“Honestly think, Court 18 was a good court to play on. It was a good atmosphere. People were close. They were intense. They were loving it in a way,” Rune, who attracts a youthful following wherever he goes, told reporters.
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“So it was a good feeling for sure. For sure I prefer playing on Centre Court. It’s a different feeling.”
Rune represents the new power in Danish tennis but his compatriot, former world number one Caroline Wozniacki, rolled back the years on Thursday as she knocked out young Canadian Leylah Fernandez in a match that concluded under the Court One roof after beginning on a different court.
Wildcard Wozniacki, who has surprisingly never gone beyond the fourth round at Wimbledon, beat the 30th seed 6-3, 2-6, 7-5.
The 33-year-old former Australian Open champion, who retired in 2020 but returned last year, will face fourth seed Elena Rybakina in the third round.
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