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5 days ago, Arthur Rinderknech won a crazy match against Pablo Carreno Busta (4-6, 6-3, 7-6 [16]) after saving nine match points.
Arthur Rinderknech (56th) deserved to fall on the court after this last volley of forehand that offered him his qualification for the semifinals of the Gijon Open. The Frenchman had just saved no less than nine match points and had to wait until his sixth chance before putting an end to this match that didn’t want to end.
Visibly moved, Rinderknech confided after the match that he thought a lot about his grandmother, who passed away a few days ago. Perhaps that’s where he found the energy he needed to win the match, which lasted just over three hours, despite the fact that he started badly against a Pablo Carreno Busta (15th) who didn’t miss a thing. The Frenchman was guilty of slacking off at times, like the smash into the net that gave his opponent his first break, and had to settle for two small points on his opponent’s serve. Forced to play too defensively, Rinderknech was unable to express himself on the court.
With the first set out of the way, it was time to get back on track. Rinderknech was more diligent in his approaches and was finally able to develop the offensive tennis that is his. After winning a huge rally, he broke 2-0 and sent a message to Carreno Busta that he wasn’t going to give him the match. Rinderknech’s tactics were the right ones, especially since the Spaniard was less precise in his ground game, especially in passing shots.
At one set apiece, both men refused to give up their commitment. Carreno Busta was the first to get match points. On the first one, which had to be replayed after a correction from the chair umpire, Rinderknech hit a welcome ace. On the second, it was a volley that allowed him to come back at 5-5.
Everything was going to be decided in a crazy tie-break. A huge half-volley gave the Spaniard two more match points. Rinderknech erased them with a winning volley and passing shot. Often under pressure, the Frenchman would also get match points. Six in total. On three of them, his climbs were too predictable and Carreno Busta put in a winning passing shot. The Spaniard also enjoyed a winning return on a second ball. Finally, Rinderknech was guilty of a backhand that was too long in a rally. However, the backhand saved a ninth match point in a tiebreak that would not choose a winner. Until that winning forehand volley that sent him into the semifinals where he lost again Sebastian Korda.
