Holger Rune held his nerve under the watchful eye of new coach Boris Becker, executing a 180-degree turnaround to polish off Miomir Kecmanivic 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 on Tuesday in his opening match at the ATP Swiss Indoors.
The 20-year-old Dane who is fighting to hold onto his final eighth spot in next month’s ATP Finals, was able to escape an pset trap laid by the Serb who will team in doubles next week with Novak Djokovic.
Rune worked his way out of difficulty after dropping the opening set, levelling at one apiece as his opponent missed on an overhead on the youngster’s set point.
Last year’s finalist here took charge in the third set to coast home and into a second-round match with Argentine Sebastian Baez.
The win was revenge after Rune lost in the Stockholm second round last week to Kecmanovic.
“The match was not so good in the beginning, but it ended in the best possible way,” the sixth-ranked wiinner said.
“I was able to raise my level and find my focus. I’m super-happy with how I managed my emotions.”
The Basel top seed finished off victory with 37 winners.
Rune will watch anxiously on Wednesday as the two men trailing him in the race to the ATP Finals in Turin – provisional ninth Taylor Fritz and No. 10 Casper Ruud – both play matches here,
Rune was pleased with how he turned around his game in the first round.
“I started believing in my shots, asking myself to remember what I’m capable of, trying to raise my level. I wanted to stay in the match and give myself a chance to play better.
Rune’s win was only his second since losing a Wimbledon quarter-final in July.
