Holger Rune settled into his game quickly as he made a winning start to his defence of the BMW Open title in Munich with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over German wild card Yannick Hanfmann.
Rune earned his breakthrough title in Munich last season and was clearly delighted with making a winning start after a first round bye.
Hanfmann had bested Brazilian No 1 Thiago Monteiro in a three-setter to earn his place in the last 16.
Rune came into the 2022 BMW Open ranked 70th in the world and his win set him on a path to becoming a top ten player.
“It was a tough match,” Rune said after the match.
“I am happy with the way I played.
“It is difficult to play the first match, different conditions.
“Thank you guys for the support.
“I really love this tournament. I had made my breakthrough with my first title here last year, so it is special to be back.”
Rune has improved his season record to 18-8 with the victory over the local hope.
The Dane Shrugged off the cold weather in Munich.
“I’m from Denmark,” the 19-year-old said.
“At the beginning of the season there are always days like this and sometimes it’s even worse.”
World No 16 Alexander Zverev was eliminated in the first round of the ATP 250 event in Munich last year by Rune, and he was eliminated again on Thursday by Australian Christopher O’Connell.
After one hour and 58 minutes, the O’Connell defeated the 19-time tour-level champion 7-6(2), 6-4 to secure his most significant win of the season.
O’Connell will face Flavio Cobolli in his third tour-level quarter-final of the year after the Next Gen Italian overcame Oscar Otte 6-0, 3-6, 6-3.
Hmaburg-native Zverev, who won the BMW Open title in Munich in 2017 and 2018, will now travel to Madrid, where he has won the tournament twice (in 2018 and 21).
Aslan Karatsev defeated Daniel Altmaier 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-2 in first round action on Thursday. Karatsev would be pressed back into action later in the afternoon in a clash with Botic van de Zandschlup.
Meanwhile, American Marcos Giron overcame Alexander Ritschard 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 to secure passage into the last eight.
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