Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena battled previous an error-riddled Holger Rune 6-3 4-6 6-3 6-2 within the first spherical of the U.S. Open on Monday, handing the fourth seed a shock early exit from the 12 months’s remaining main.
Carballes Baena was deadly from the baseline and fired off seven aces as his Danish rival struggled to make any type of affect on a muggy afternoon match at Flushing Meadows.
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Rune suffered early exits from tune-up occasions in Toronto and Cincinnati and there have been early indicators of bother on Monday as he did not earn a break level within the first set.
Carballes Baena transformed on break level probabilities within the fifth and ninth video games however his serve misplaced its firepower within the second set, the place Rune lastly broke within the third sport.
The Spaniard, who gained in Marrakech earlier this 12 months, cleaned up his act within the third set, the place he broke Rune to like within the eighth sport, and had clear management over the affair within the fourth set, the place he solely dropped a single first-serve level.
Carballes Baena broke his opponent’s serve within the third and seventh video games and beamed broadly after Rune surrendered the match with an unforced forehand error.
“Not satisfied with the result obviously, but also with my tennis,” mentioned Rune, who known as on the coach within the third set after scuffling with a left knee downside.
“There is only one way, and it’s to work.”
The Wimbledon and Roland Garros quarter-finalist had been upset to see his opening match happening on Court 5, a relatively smaller venue on the sprawling Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, however made no excuses for his efficiency.
“(The better) you get in the ranking, …you should …. play in better conditions,” he advised reporters.
“But they didn’t do it with me here. That’s obviously disappointing, but not going to blame the court on the loss.”