Holger Rune battled past a spirited Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on Tuesday to advance to the Shanghai Masters quarter-finals.
After losing a close second-set tiebreak, Rune closed out the match, winning 6-4, 6-7, 6-3.
The Dane will now face either Tallon Griekspoor – who defeated Jannik Sinner earlier in the tournament – or qualifier Valentin Vacherot.
Mpetshi Perricard owns one of the most fearsome serves on Tour. However, Rune dealt with the shot superbly throughout the match, effectively blocking the Frenchman’s serve back into court from both wings.
After defeating the Frenchman on Tuesday, Rune assessed his overall performance while discussing how he fared against the Mpetshi Perricard serve.
Holger Rune speaks about Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard’s serve
During his on-court interview with Sky Sports, Rune said: “I mean I don’t know if there were so many ups and downs. I held my serve all the way. I managed to break him twice, he was serving very well today. He also showed his level against Fritz, he’s a tough player to beat on this surface.
“A little bit better condition today to play in, but I’m just very happy about my mindset again. I played every point, I stayed there.
“After I lost the second set I was a bit frustrated, but [I] came back and was very determined for the third set and managed to hold my nerve at the end, so that’s what’s most important.”
The ATP Tour spokesman then asked: “Tell us what it’s like facing that serve, how key the return was today, and how well you returned at certain stages, and also how big that victory is in terms of the race to Turin [ATP Finals], you’re moving up the list.”
Rune replied: “Yeah of course, I mean every match helps but mostly… as you say the return was very important. I think I did a little bit of an adjustment in the third set.
“But again, I wasn’t returning poorly at all in the second set. I had a few times 40-40, and I think maybe one break point, but he was just serving well when it mattered. So it was about just staying in there, staying focused, trying to adjust small things. All in all, a good match, I think, from both of us.
“I was maybe a little bit not too careful with that drop volley in the tiebreak in the second [set], but again I misjudged it a little and that can happen. But mostly happy that I bounced back.
“I played pretty aggressive, tried to play on my terms because if I let him control his… that’s what he likes.”
Rune rivalled Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner after his victory in the round previous, and did so again following victory against Mpetshi Perricard.
As per OptaAce, Holger Rune has reached an 11th quarter-final at ATP Masters 1000 events, trailing just Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner among players born since 2000.
Alcaraz has reached 18 Masters 1000 quarter-finals, while Sinner has made 17.
A statistical breakdown
Rune managed to mitigate the threat of the Mpetshi Perricard serve throughout their contest on Tuesday.
The Frenchman, as always, imposed his will while serving, making 66 per cent of his first serves, winning 75 per cent of those points.
However, Rune managed to do something few can: trouble the Frenchman’s serve.
As per Sofascore, Mpetshi Perricard won 58 per cent of points on his second serve and faced seven break points.
Rune also limited the Frenchman’s success while receiving, saving all three of Mpetshi Perricard’s break-point opportunities.
Rune won 81 per cent of his first serve points and, remarkably, won more points on serve than his French opponent.
The Dane also won an astonishing 71 per cent of his second-serve points.
