Roland Garros: Holger Rune defeats Genaro Alberto Olivieri to reach fourth round

Holger Rune wasted little in reaching the fourth round at Roland Garros for the second consecutive year on Saturday when he ended Genaro Alberto Olivieri’s run with a 6-4, 6-1, 6-3 win.

The 20-year-old received a second-round walkover from Gael Monfils and looked fresh throughout the clash against the Argentine qualifier. The sixth seed took large cuts at the ball to strike 35 winners, while he returned with relentless aggression and depth to advance after two hours.

“I played my first round on Tuesday and unfortunately I could not play the second round against Gael. I wish him all the best, he is an incredible player. I was super happy with my level today,” Rune said. “It was difficult and very windy. Olivieri played a good tournament so I had to be sharp.”

Rune advanced to the quarter-finals on debut in Paris last year and will aim to reach that stage again when he meets 23rd seed Francisco Cerundolo in the fourth round.

“I love it every time I step out on this court. It is one of my favourite courts in the world,” Rune said when asked about competing on Court Philippe Chatrier. “I have played some of my best tennis here.”

Rune, who beat Christopher Eubanks in four sets in the first round, has performed strongly on clay this year. The Dane advanced to the final at ATP Masters 1000 events in Monte-Carlo and Rome, while he won his fourth tour-level title in Munich. He holds a 15-3 record on the surface in 2023.

At No. 231 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, Olivieri was the lowest-ranked player to reach the third round in Paris this year. The 24-year-old qualifier, who had never played a main draw tour-level match before this week, is up 60 spots to No. 171 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings.

In other action, Tomas Martin Etcheverry advanced to the fourth round at a major for the first time, defeating 15th seed Borna Coric 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-2. The 23-year-old, up 12 spots to No. 37 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, dropped to the floor in celebration following his second Top 20 win of the season. The Argentine defeated World No. 19 Alex de Minaur in the second round in Paris.

Etcheverry will next face Yoshihito Nishioka after the Japanese player ended Thiago Seyboth Wild’s run. Nishioka overcame the Brazilian qualifier, who defeated Daniil Medvedev in the first round, 3-6, 7-6(10), 2-6, 6-4, 6-0.