Holger Rune will compete in the last 16 at the Shanghai Masters for the second straight time. Holger ousted Ugo Humbert 6-4, 6-4 in an hour and 34 minutes for his 15th appearance in the last 16 at this level.
Thus, Rune became the third player born in 2000 or later to achieve that after Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Like many other players, Holger struggled in difficult conditions.
However, he endured and sealed the deal in straight sets, remaining perfect in H2H matches against Humbert. The younger player dropped 13 points in ten service games and lost serve once from the only chance presented to his rival.
The Frenchman lost 37% of the points in his games and suffered three breaks from five chances offered to the better-ranked opponent. Holger hit more winners and forged the lead from the baseline.
Rune claimed an entertaining point in the third game of the match and provided a break at love after a forced error. The 10th seed cemented the lead with a service winner in game four and grabbed another break in the next one when Humbert sprayed a backhand error.
A left-hander fired a forehand down the line winner in the sixth game, pulling one break back and reducing the gap to 4-2. They served well in the last four games, with Holger holding at 30 in the tenth for 6-4 in 45 minutes.
Ugo faced issues on serve in the third game and played a loose smash on the third break point to drop serve and fall behind. Rune cemented the break with an ace in game four and grabbed the sixth with a service winner for a 4-2 lead.
The 10th seed closed the eighth game with winners and moved closer to the finish line. Humbert served to stay in the match at 3-5 and landed a backhand down the line winner to extend the battle.
Holger served for the win at 5-4 and held at love with a forehand winner to seal the deal and move into the last 16.
