The Danish star prevailed 6–4, 6–7(2), 7–6(5) after two hours and 40 minutes, recording his first ATP Tour-level victory since suffering an Achilles tendon injury at the Stockholm Open in October 2025.
The result ended a 373-day wait for a win on the main ATP Tour and sent the former world No. 4 into the second round of the ATP 500 tournament.
Rune Makes Strong Start in Basel
Rune began confidently at the St Jakobshalle, gradually finding his rhythm against Halys, whose powerful serve posed a constant threat.
The Dane secured the opening set 6–4 after earning a crucial break during a closely contested passage of play.
Halys responded in the second set, where both players proved difficult to break. With neither man able to create a decisive opening, the set went to a tie-break.
The Frenchman dominated the tie-break 7–2, using his powerful first serve to level the match and force a deciding set.
Halys Fires 32 Aces in Marathon Contest
The final set developed into a battle of endurance, with Halys continuing to put pressure on Rune through his serve.
The Frenchman struck 32 aces during the match, but Rune showed resilience under pressure, producing important winners and defending his service games when it mattered most.
Neither player could establish a decisive advantage, sending the contest into another tie-break.
Rune appeared close to victory when he opened up a 5–1 lead in the deciding tie-break. However, Halys fought back to level the score at 5–5, threatening to snatch the match away from the Dane.
A double fault from Halys at 5–5 gave Rune a match point. The former world No. 4 seized the opportunity with a well-executed drop shot to seal the victory 7–5 in the tie-break.
A Significant Step in Rune’s Comeback
The victory represented an important breakthrough for Rune, who suffered an Achilles tendon rupture during the Stockholm Open in October 2025.
After an extended rehabilitation period, the Dane returned to competitive action in September 2026, winning both of his singles matches for Denmark in the Davis Cup against Bulgaria.
However, he suffered first-round defeats in Tokyo and Shanghai after returning to the ATP Tour. His Basel triumph was therefore his first individual main-tour victory since his injury.
Rune also saved all five break points he faced against Halys, underlining his ability to handle pressure during the contest.
The 23-year-old had previously reached the Basel final in 2022, when he finished runner-up to Canada’s Félix Auger-Aliassime.
Rune Awaits Second-Round Opponent
Rune will next face either Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz or Belgium’s Zizou Bergs as he attempts to continue his run in Basel.
The victory provides encouragement as he works towards regaining the form that previously took him into the world’s top four.
For Rune, the challenge now is to build on this hard-earned success, maintain his physical fitness and regain consistency after a lengthy spell away from the sport’s highest level.
His performance against Halys showed that, despite the setbacks, he remains capable of competing in demanding matches on the ATP Tour.