By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Photo credit: Tennis TV Screen Shot
Facing break point, Holger Rune responded with mind-blowing brilliance.
Racing to retrieve a lob with his back to net, Rune flicks a fantastic tweener lob that soared over Stefanos Tsitsipas' head and settled snugly inside the baseline during their Indian Wells battle.
Certainly one of the most electrifying shots of the tournament and an early candidate for shot of the year.
It all went down with Rune facing double break point while serving at 4-3 in the second set.
That stirring shot helped Rune stop Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-4 to earn the first Top 10 outdoor hard-court win of his career. Rune had been 0-9 vs. Top 10 opponents on outdoor hard courts before defeating Dubai champion Tsitsipas, improving to 4-0 lifetime against the Greek.
The 21-year-old reached his ninth Masters 1000 quarterfinal, becoming the first Scandinavian to reach back-to-back Indian Wells quarterfinals since Swedish Hall of Famer Stefan Edberg in 1994-95.
The 12th-seeded Rune will try to beat Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor for the first time when they square off in the quarterfinals.