WATCH: Holger Rune shows gracious sportsmanship allowing Alexander Shevchenko a second first serve at Rotterdam

The third seed, despite defending a set point, did not take an undue advantage of the controversial call by the chair umpire.

WATCH: Holger Rune shows gracious sportsmanship allowing Alexander Shevchenko a second first serve at Rotterdam

Alexander Shevchenko thanked Holger Rune for his sportsmanship (images via X)

In a major upset at the 2024 Rotterdam Open, third-seeded Holger Rune exits the tournament in the round of 16. The Dane was up against World No. 57 Alexander Shevchenko for a place in the quarter-finals.

The Kazakh however played out an epic match to win the tie in three sets. He won the match 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 in 1 hour and 36 minutes. The victory over Rune is now the biggest win for the 23-year-old. His previous best result came against then World No. 9 Taylor Fritz in Basel last year.

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While his performance was certainly the better one, the World No. 7 did show his class during the first set. With Shevchenko serving for the first set, he hit the net and immediately looked towards the chair umpire. The reason was the accidental commencement of music on the big speakers.

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While he was in motion, the sudden start of the music caught him by surprise and he had a lapse of concentration. As he questioned the chair umpire, he was taken further by surprise as ‘first service’ was called for his mistimed shot.

As the two continued to argue, Shevchenko had almost given up and was walking back to the baseline facing the chair umpire. Rune showed exemplary behavior on the court and asked the umpire to allow a replay of the point despite being a point away from losing the set.

Shevchenko thanked him for his gesture by showing his thumb and hit a perfect serve that Rune failed to clear past the net. The Kazakh won the first set with that point before eventually knocking the former World No. 4 out of the event.

Alexander Shevchenko beaming with pride after beating Holger Rune

Playing in his third tournament since changing his nationality from Russia to Kazakhstan, Shevchenko was proud of his win. He admitted to having thought of avenging the revenge after losing to Rune in Brisbane earlier this year.

Alexander Shevchenko
Alexander Shevchenko (image via ATP Tour)

But he also credited the luck factor for him in the third set that made all the difference in the match’s result. 

[It’s the] best win in my career so far. I had one against Taylor Fritz, it was that one [until now], but today is probably the best one. It tastes sweeter when I take revenge from the Brisbane match [against Rune]. I think I was more aggressive against him in the first set.
Said Shevchenko speaking in the on-court interview. 
Then he stepped up his game really well, started to be more aggressive and go more to the net. That kind of tricked me. I think in the third set it was quite open. I think I got lucky in a way with the break point, and I think he was maybe a little bit the better player in the third set, but luck was on my side.
Added the Kazakh.

Following this win, Shevchenko will now take on another seed. He will face the sixth-seeded Grigor Dimitrov in the quarter-finals. This will be the first meeting between the two men. The Bulgarian had earlier defeated Marton Fucsovics in straight-sets in the second round to reach the last-8.

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