In his Beijing debut, Rune also ended a four-match losing streak.
The Dane put on an excellent performance and gave the impression that his injury concerns are unfounded despite receiving a difficult draw to begin with.
“It was pleasant. I’ve had a difficult time recently with my body and the match’s circumstances, so I’m simply relieved to be feeling well again,” stated Rune following the game.
I’m in good mental health both on and off the court. I’m absolutely ecstatic with my level right now.
Rune hadn’t won on the circuit since Wimbledon and hadn’t competed since the US Open in late August before arriving in Asia. When paired up against World No. 15 Auger-Aliassime in China, he may have blamed his bad luck, but the 20-year-old put on a dominant display to win in 84 minutes on the Diamond Court at the Beijing Olympic Green Tennis Centre.
Rune’s record against Auger-Aliassime, who has had a subpar year by his standards but had flashes of his best in helping Team World win the Laver Cup in Vancouver last weekend, has improved to 2-1.
The Dane has been off the tour because he can no longer compete due to a back issue, but he was happy with how his body handled the hard courts in Beijing.
“I was in excellent mood. I had no bodily sensations, stated Rune. “I like this. I don’t mind having sore muscles, but I’m too young to be dealing with these issues, so it’s fantastic to feel good outside. I’m in good health, taking good care of my body, and I’m overjoyed to perform without experiencing any pain.
Only a few weeks had passed since Rune had taken a break from the game due to the stress of continuous play.
In the days leading up to his matchup with Felix Auger-Aliassime in Beijing’s opening round, Rune admitted that he had been having back problems.
“Even competing in competitions while in agony. I promised myself after my final Davis Cup match that I wouldn’t rejoin the tour until I was fully recovered, and I am today.
“I’ve been able to get rid of what I needed to get rid of, and I’m starting to feel more like myself again.”