Holger Rune Battles Past Roberto Carballés Baena in Grueling Acapulco Opener
Holger Rune kicked off his Mexican Open campaign with a hard-fought victory over Spain’s Roberto Carballés Baena, prevailing in a physically intense contest. The Danish No. 7 seed overcame a slow start and moments of frustration to grind out a 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 win in just over two and a half hours.
Carballés Baena, known for his consistency from the baseline and exceptional defensive skills, took control early in the match. The Spaniard frustrated Rune with deep, heavy groundstrokes and capitalized on his opponent’s early unforced errors. Rune, struggling with his first serve and shot selection, dropped the opening set 3-6 as Carballés Baena dictated play with well-placed forehands and impressive counterpunching.
However, the World No. 7 raised his level in the second set, improving his first-serve percentage and becoming more aggressive on return. Rune’s ability to change the direction of rallies and step inside the baseline paid off, forcing Carballés Baena onto the defensive. After an intense exchange of service holds, Rune finally broke the Spaniard at 6-5 to take the second set and shift momentum in his favor.
In the deciding set, Rune looked more confident, striking winners off both wings and dictating play with his improved serve. A crucial break at 3-2 proved decisive, as Carballés Baena struggled to keep up with Rune’s increased intensity. The Dane sealed victory at 6-3 with a dominant final service game.
Rune now advances to the second round, where he will face a tougher test against a higher-ranked opponent. The 20-year-old will aim to build on this hard-earned win as he continues to seek his first title of the 2025 season.
