French Open 2024: Alexander Zverev vs Holger Rune preview, head-to-head, prediction, live streaming details

Published at :June 3, 2024 at 12:23 PM

Modified at :June 3, 2024 at 12:23 PM

(Courtesy : Getty Images)

Zverev and Holger Rune face off for the second time in their career.

Alexander Zverev, the Italian Open champion, rallied to overcome a resilient Tallon Griekspoor 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(10-3) at French Open 2024 third round.

Staring at defeat, Zverev pulled off an improbable win to make the fourth round of the clay court major for the seventh year in a row. Griekspoor’s game rose in intensity, allowing the Dutchman to take a 4-1 lead in the deciding set.

However, the Dutch player’s composure began to unravel in sight of the finish line as he made three double faults across two games, enabling Zverev to level at 4-4. Forced into a tiebreak, the German played some vintage tennis to take the tiebreak 10-3 and advance after spending a grueling four hours and thirteen minutes on the court.

Zverev was not the only player who had to play a final set tiebreak to progress. His fourth-round Scandinavian rival, Holger Rune, got the better of Jozef Kovalik, 7-5, 6-1, 7-6(2).

It was a more relaxed affair for the Dane after winning a marathon five-setter on Court 14 against Flavio Cobolli. Rune let slip a two-set lead before winning 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 3-6, 7-6(10-7) on Thursday. On the brink of defeat at 0-5 in the deciding set tiebreak, the Dane dug himself out of the hole by taking seven of the next eight points to cross the finish line after three hours and 50 minutes on the clock.

Alexander Zverev vs Holger Rune match details

Date: June 3, Monday

Time: 11:45 PM (Tentative)

Venue: Stade Roland Garros, Paris

Alexander Zverev vs Holger Rune preview

The winner of the Zverev-Rune affair will go on to face either Daniil Medvedev or Alex de Minaur in the quarterfinals as the French Open moves into its second week. Zverev, currently a World No. #4, is a three-time semifinalist in the preceding three years, losing to Stefanos Tsitsipas (2021), Rafael Nadal (2022) and Casper Ruud (2023). This year, he ousted Nadal in three sets in the first round.

A probable clash with his 2023 victor Casper Ruud is likely in the semifinal round, should both players make it that far. With Tsitsipas in the bottom half of the draw, a clash with the Greek is only possible in the championship round.

Holger Rune reached the quarterfinals in 2022 and 2023, falling both times to his Scandinavian neighbor, Norwegian Casper Ruud, in straight sets. A win against Zverev will place him in the path of Ruud in the last four. Both times.

Head-to-head records

Matches – 1

Holger Rune – 1

Alexander Zverev – 0

Rune and Zverev have faced off exactly once before on the ATP Tour, back in 2022 at the BMW Open in Munich in the round of 16. Rune won on that occasion, posting a straight-set win, 6-3, 6-2.

Where and how to watch the live streaming and TV broadcast of Alexander Zverev vs Holger Rune, French Open 2024, fourth round match in India?

Live action from Paris in the ongoing French Open will unfold on Indian screens on the Sony Sports Network along with its streaming service SonyLiv.

Prediction

Alexander Zverev, with a win-loss of 28-8, boasts of superior numbers compared to Holger Rune, who is 7-2 on the clay courts of Roland Garros. Zverev has been known to dig deep at the venue, as seen by his 9-1 five-set record at the French Open. This season. Zverev’s 10-3 record on clay is also superior to Rune’s 6-4. After winning the first set, Zverev is 22-2 (91%), with Rune close behind at a none-too-shabby 16-2 (89%).

The German has taken wins in all five of his recent matches, while Rune is four of five. Holger Rune lost to Sebastian Baez in the third round of the Rome Masters last month.

On clay this season, Zverev has won 77% and 54% of first-serve and second-serve points, while Rune has managed 70% and 52%. Zverev has won 91% of service games played, while Rune trails at 80%. Zverev has managed to carve out 91 breakpoint opportunities, converting 34%. Rune got himself 52 breakpoint opportunities, converting 40% of them.

Alexander Zverev will be banking on the experience of being a top-five player as he did in his face-off against Tallon Griekspoor in the previous round. A win against Rune will be payback for his defeat at the hands of the Dane in 2022.

Result: Alexander Zverev to win in five sets

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