Holger Rune expects his Italian Open last-16 clash with home favourite Fabio Fognini to be “wild” after beating Arthur Fils, while Casper Ruud also progressed in Rome.
The world No. 7 earned a 6-3 6-3 victory over 18-year-old Fils to make it through as he looks to bounce back from a disappointing third-round exit at the Madrid Open.
Ad Rune’s clay-court season campaign got off to a flying start when he reached the Monte Carlo final in April, losing to Andrey Rublev, but he will have to silence a vocal home support in his next match.
Roland-GarrosMurray 'would still like to play' French Open despite early Rome exitYESTERDAY AT 11:52 Fognini was handed a wildcard in Rome and has enjoyed a superb week so far, upsetting top-50 players Andy Murray and Miomir Kecmanovic in front of boisterous crowds to earn a clash with a player 15 years his junior. «It's going to be wild, for sure,» Rune said. “But this is great because this is what tennis is about.