This is bound to be one of the thrilling matches of the Round of 16 at the Swiss Indoors in Basel, pitting the home favorite Dominic Stephan Stricker against the ever-dangerous Holger Rune. The match will pit world number 258 Stricker into action against the number 14 of the world Rune from Denmark, with both men seeking to extend their run in one of the final ATP 500 events of the year. Although Rune is coming into the encounter as the higher of the two, this could be a pretty close encounter as Stricker might put up an inspired display on home soil, coupled with his strong serve.
Holger Rune leads 2-1 in their head-to-head. The last time they met was in the quarterfinals of an ITF tournament in Klosters, Switzerland, last September. Rune came from behind to defeat Stricker in a three-set win. The difference it makes is that while Rune has moved up the ranks into the higher echelons of the ATP since then, Stricker has grown steadily into a stronger player, especially under pressure situations.
Claim Welcome BonusDominic Stephan Stricker
With the home crowd's hopes on his shoulders, Stricker will be the up-and-coming Swiss star. He has been decent lately, splitting his last 10 matches 5-5, a decent run that includes an upset in form over the talented Tallon Griekspoor. A booming serve and aggressive shot-making are the fulcrums of his game, crucial elements against a top-shelf opponent like Rune. That acutely shows serving powers that Stricker has had, as he made 14 aces in his last outing, and an almost flawless record of saving break points evidences his mental toughness at crucial junctures.
He will most likely base his strategy on serve and first-strike tennis, as he did against Griekspoor. Dominating on serve is one thing he needs to do; he will also need to dominate those short mid-court balls that Rune leaves. However, Rune's aggressive baseline game and quick reflexes will test Stricker's defensive capabilities once more. The ability to hold serve and disrupt Rune's rhythm might just be enough to make this match competitive. On the return game, Stricker can work to get a start on Rune's second serve as, in previous matches, the Dane was very vulnerable in that regard.
Holger Rune
Meanwhile, Holger Rune is continuing to rise into the top tier of the ATP Tour. The Danish sensation is wired for fearlessness and a game built on physicality. After a few ups-and-downs over the last month or so, Rune has taken 6 of his last 10 matches, including a straight set takedown of Nicolás Jarry in the prior round. His return game and court coverage are big factors in his successful game, which makes him a nightmare to play against for anyone on tour.
Rune will look to outlast Stricker in rallies with his better movement and all-court game. The Dane will also continue to target the Swiss player's backhand, regarded as more of a weakness than his forehand. Variation of pace and spin will also be a tool Rune uses to try to force errors from the Swiss under pressure. Rune's return game, which has not been firing on many cylinders of late-hewon just 13% of first serve return points against Jarry- needs to be better if he is to nullify Stricker's serve.
Expert Betting Tips
The form that Stricker has shown this week in Basel suggests he is more than capable of troubling higher-ranked opponents, especially when his serve is firing so well. His numbers against Griekspoor indicated he can get out of trouble on his serve rather comfortably, and if he's able to keep similar serving numbers, he'll drag Rune into long, taxing rallies.
But Rune is the more complete player at this stage in their respective careers. Capable of controlling the baseline and with consistent returning, this is a tough match-up for Stricker. However, his vulnerability on second serve points, as seen in the Jarry match, could give Stricker an opening if the Swiss can step in and be aggressive on returns. Rune will have to tighten up his return game, and if he can break early, he could shift the momentum decisively in his favour.
- Holger Rune Wins & Under 2.5 Sets @ 2 Odds
- Under 23.5 Games @ 1.76 Odds
- Holger Rune Wins 2-0 @ 2.10 Odds
Other predictions
