Holger Rune makes it through rain, snow, hail, Galán in Munich return
The two-time BMW Open champion had everything thrown at him to kick off his title defense but overcame the strange conditions to defeat Daniel Elahi Galán in straight sets.
Holger Rune showed postman-like efficiency at the BMW Open on Thursday, making it through a mix of rain, sleet, and hail to defeat Daniel Elahi Galán, 6-4, 6-2, and win a ninth consecutive match in Munch.
Rune, who won his first ATP title at this tournament in 2022 and defended it last April, was two points into his opening round with Galán when a dark cloud descended to bring the match to a shocking halt.
Though hail storms are par for the course in Munich—a June 2019 storm reportedly saw hail the size of tennis balls(!)—the conditions were a marked departure from what typically disrupts a tennis match:
“It was very cold, I think we all feel it,” Rune joked on court after the match. “I’m used to it; I’m from Denmark, so it’s ok! It’s great to finish in two sets and nice to be back in Munich, so I’m enjoying it.”
The No. 2 seed donned long sleeves under his Nike kit but retained his infamous short shorts as he emerged from the 45-minute delay to defeat Galán in one hour and 39 minutes, losing just two points behind his first serve.
In search of a third straight title in Munich, Rune will next face Yannick Hanfmann or Swiss qualifier Marc-Andrea Hüsler, who owns a surprising 2-1 head-to-head over the world No. 12 after winning their first two matches in 2022.
