“That match was the most important of my life. Proving to myself that I could beat a legend like him was a great confidence booster, which I still have. I know what it takes to get to that level and I’m willing to work hard to get there.
and keep it.” Holger Rune spoke again about his triumph in the Masters 1000 in Paris-Bercy, recalling his surprising victory in the final against the Serbian Novak Djokovic, in words collected by Tennis Majors. The Dane was disappointed not to have had the opportunity to face the new world number one again at the Australian Open, given his round of 16 defeat against Russian Andrey Rublev: “I really wanted to challenge him, it was frustrating to lose.
I’m sure it would have been a very difficult game, but also that I would have gone with the conviction that I could win”, he revealed. The player born in 2003 added: “I’m willing to give one hundred percent and, if things don’t work, look for solutions on the court.
Looking at my season in general, it won’t be easy to handle the feeling and the pressure of having to win more games than last year.” The athlete also spoke of the close relationship he has with his coach, Patrick Mouratoglu: “At first he was going to stay with me until the end of 2022, but we decided to stay together.
I get along very well with Patrick, we have gotten along well and he has made my whole team improve. I am satisfied with how I have designed my environment for this season”, he affirmed, and concluded: “I am prepared. I am sure that the rest of the rivals will try to beat me above all else”.
Hoger Rune is competing this week in the ATP 250 in Montpellier, a tournament in which he is a favorite and in which he surpassed the first round by defeating the Swiss Marc Andrea Huesler by 7-6 and 6-2.
Rune made his top-level tennis breakthrough in 2022
Holger Rune has realised a lot of dreams in a short space of time and he is looking forward to achieving another big milestone in his career next year at the Paris Olympics.
Asked about the Paris 2024 on the Tennis Weekly Podcast, the teenager replied: “It is [a big goal of mine]. I am super excited for it. “It’s going to be next year, 2024 in Paris. I always play great in Paris and I am excited for it.
It’s a great event. As a kid, I’ve been dreaming about it as well, so it will soon be a reality”.
