Holmgren loses qualification clash for French Open but can hope for 'lucky loser' ticket

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/holmgren-august/QTqxSQsj/"]August Holmgren[/a] failed to qualify for the French Open main draw for the first time in his career this time.[/p][p]On Thursday, the Danish tennis player lost an even qualifying final against Argentine [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/diaz-acosta-facundo/AsRYv2m2/"]Facundo Diaz Acosta[/a] 7-6, 4-6, 2-6.[/p][p]Thanks to his ranking as number 150 - five positions better than Holmgren - and his skills on clay, Diaz Acosta went into the clash as the favorite, but the Dane challenged Acosta for two hours and 30 minutes.[/p][p]August Holmgren generally played a fine first set. He broke to lead 1-0, but was broken back immediately, before the players held serve until 6-6 without giving up break points.[/p][p]Holmgren then delivered a tiebreak to near perfection. He served well himself, but he also seized the chances in the Argentine's serve.[/p][p]Diaz Acosta made rare errors with his forehand, allowing Holmgren to go up 3-1, and on the next point, the Dane stepped into the court and won the point thanks to a sublime backhand return to lead 4-1.[/p][p]Holmgren's backhand again worked its magic as the Dane won the tiebreaker 7-2. [/p][p]Holmgren carried the momentum into the second set, where he won the first six points, but Diaz Acosta got his game going again and held serve to 1-1.[/p][p]The Argentine also got the upper hand in the rallies, allowing him to break to 3-2, and he also had two chances to break to 6-3, but Holmgren fought with everything he had to stay in the set.[/p][p]The Dane actually had a chance to break serve to restore parity at 5-5, but Diaz Acosta was saved by his serve and secured the set with 6-4.[/p][p]In the deciding set, Holmgren hung on to 2-2, but was then broken twice when his strength began to wane after a long match.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tauson-clara/2PPTHPya/"]Clara Tauson[/a] is thus the only Dane left when the draw for the French Open, which begins on Sunday, is made on Thursday.[/p][p]Holmgren can, however, hope that late cancellations can bring him into the tournament as a so-called "lucky loser".[/p][p]Holmgren has only participated in the main event of a Grand Slam once. It was at Wimbledon last year that he sensationally reached the third round.[/p]