World No. 9 Holger Rune implodes in Monte-Carlo Masters Final

19-year-old tennis sensation Holger Rune has snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in a stunning collapse in one of the biggest non-grand slam tournaments.

Holger Rune blew a golden chance. Photo: Getty Images

Danish tennis superstar Holger Rune has blown a golden chance to take out his second Masters 1000 event, blowing a 4-1 lead in the third set of the Monte Carlo final.

Russian Andrey Rublev took home the trophy but bounced back to live with a 5-7 6-2 7-5 win.

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The 25-year-old achieved the biggest win of his career after losing Masters finals in Monte Carlo and Cincinnati, both in 2021, to boost his confidence heading into next month’s French Open on clay.

“It’s a great feeling. Today I handled my emotions really well,” Rublev said. “After struggling so much, so many times, losing in the finals, semi-finals, losing even earlier, to win first 1000 Masters and finally I did it.

“To win a match like this, losing 4-1, Love-30, breakpoint for 5-1, and to be able to come back and to win is like a fairytale today.

“I remember the previous finals and when I was losing I thought I’d have no chance and mentally I was going down.

“But today I thought, ‘Just believe until the end’, and this is what I was trying to do in the third set, hoping I would have an extra chance to come back and what a way to do it.”

Rublev kisses the trophy. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Rune was aiming for his second Masters 1000 title after defeating five Top 10 players en route to the title in Paris last year.

But the 19-year-old conceded he did not have enough time to recover from his thrilling three-set win over Italy’s Jannik Sinner on Saturday.

“I didn’t have any more in me,” he said.

“I was definitely in control in the third set and also I would say mostly in the first set as well but didn’t manage to close it out.

“Disappointing, but the most important tournament of the clay season is the French Open, so if I can prepare myself as best as possible for that one, that’s what matters.”

Rune seemed to be on a roll to victory in the third set racing to 3-0 and had a double break point to lead 5-1.

But it was the Russian who lined up three games in a row and then managed the break, taking advantage of the nervousness of his opponent, who notably missed two smashes in a row to lead 6-5 and serve for the match.

He gave himself three consecutive match points and concluded with an ace on the second.

Rafael Nadal, an 11-time winner in Monte Carlo, and Carlos Alcaraz missed this key French Open warm-up with injury while top seed Djokovic was knocked out in the last 16.

Rune hardly looked like he knew what had happened. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

In the 11th game of the third set with the match slipping away, Rune even turned the crowd against him, hitting two balls out of the court, which saw the fans jeer the teenage — and act he appeared to encourage.

After the match, Rune said he wasn’t happy with the crowd.

“I don’t see myself as Daniil Medvedev,” he began. “I just think that when somebody is screaming while you’re serving, it’s not normal.

“That’s why I either tell the umpire that if she can say something to the crowd, and if she doesn't I will do it myself.

“It’s just all about respect. You know, it’s important to respect people. I respect people. They have to respect me. That’s all.”

Deprived of his national flag after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Rublev thanked the crowd for their support.

“Coming from the country where I come from, to receive such international support, it is enormous,” he said.