Chris O'Connell gave it his all before succumbing in just his second ATP semi-final in Munich. -AP
Chris O'Connell's best-ever run in an ATP tournament is over after the Sydneysider found teenage star Holger Rune a hurdle too far in his breakthrough event in Munich.
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O'Connell had worked wonders to reach only his second tour-level semi-final at the BMW Open, even defeating home hero, Olympic champion Alexander Zverev, en route to the last four.
But in Saturday's semi-final, seeking the biggest win of his burgeoning career, he was well beaten 6-3 6-2 by world No.7 Rune, the reigning Munich champion who's found a rich vein of form on the clay after reaching last week's Monte Carlo Masters final.
It took the 19-year-old Dane just an hour and 20 minutes to prevail, though O'Connell was far from disgraced in defeat, going toe-to-toe with one of the brightest young talents on the circuit in the first set after a poor start in which he had gone three games down in just eight minutes.
But Rune also raised his game again in the second set to finally crack O'Connell's resistance and reel off the last three games, including a break of serve to love.
O'Connell went down fighting, even earning four break points in the final game before Rune finally sealed victory and the opportunity to win a fourth ATP crown on Sunday against either Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp or American Taylor Fritz.
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