Young tennis star remains confident to bounce back to Top 10: ‘I beat Djokovic in a Masters 1000 final at 19’
Danish tennis star Holger Rune, who defeated Novak Djokovic to win a Masters 1000 at just 19, believes he’ll return to the Top 10 soon.
In 2022, a 19-year-old Holger Rune shocked the tennis world by defeating Novak Djokovic in the Paris Masters final, breaking into the Top 10 for the first time. The Danish star also made history as the first player to beat five Top 10 opponents in a single tournament outside of the ATP Finals.
Following his Masters 1000 triumph, Rune achieved a career-high ranking of World No. 4. However, inconsistent results and the rise of new stars have since seen him slip to No. 15 in the ATP rankings. Despite this, Rune remains optimistic about reclaiming his spot among the sport’s elite.
“I’m very hopeful in this moment. I feel like things are getting better together,” Rune shared in an interview with ATPTour.com. “Consistency in my team, working dedicatedly, and trusting what I’m doing is a nice feeling. I’m not stressed“.
“At the same time, I was telling myself that a few years ago I was beating Jannik [Sinner], beating Carlos [Alcaraz], and now I’m struggling more,” Rune continued. “But I can’t expect myself to be up there after a year or a year and a half of inconsistency with my team, tennis, and work ethic. It’s not going to happen overnight. But it’s going in the right direction, and I feel it in my game already“.
Rune on his potential
Rune remains confident about the level of play he can achieve, referencing his memorable victory in Paris. “I won a Masters 1000 against Novak Djokovic in the final when I was 19 years old. I think that says it pretty well,” Rune said. “But it’s all about consistency. That is what I am trying to find”.
The Dane also praised rising Brazilian talent Joao Fonseca. “If a guy like Fonseca is playing unbelievable tennis, and I’ve been practicing with him, if they can keep that level in every tournament, we’ll see them at the top of the game,” Rune added. “That’s what we hope because they’re interesting players“.
Rune’s current campaign
Rune is showing signs of a resurgence at the Indian Wells Masters 1000. The Dane has already defeated tough opponents, starting with Corentin Moutet in the first round, Ugo Humbert in the second, and World No. 8 Stefanos Tsitsipas in the third.
Now advancing to the quarterfinals, Rune will face Dutch player Tallon Griekspoor. If victorious, he could meet either Arthur Fils or Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals. It’s a golden opportunity for Rune to rekindle the form that stunned the tennis world back in 2022.