Just two years ago, Holger Rune was hailed as the next great superstar of men’s tennis. He had just defeated Novak Djokovic in a thrilling Paris Masters final, securing his first Masters 1000 title and sending shockwaves through the sport. At the time, he looked to be ahead of Jannik Sinner and just behind Carlos Alcaraz in the race to dominate the new generation.
Fast forward to 2025, and Rune finds himself chasing the very players he once rivaled. While Sinner and Alcaraz have each captured three Grand Slam titles, Rune has stagnated, struggling to make the leap from a promising contender to a consistent champion.
But the Danish prodigy is refusing to panic. He remains confident in his approach, rejecting the idea that he needs to overhaul his game. Instead, Rune is focused on refining his strengths, learning from the comeback of Alexander Zverev, and making sure that he never again lets his work ethic slip.
The Rise and Stall of Holger Rune
After his Paris Masters triumph in 2022, Rune was seen as a serious threat to Alcaraz’s reign as the next dominant force in tennis. Younger than Sinner and already competing at an elite level, the expectations were sky-high.
But since that breakthrough, Rune has been unable to match the rapid ascent of his rivals. His Grand Slam results have been underwhelming, and his inconsistencies on the court have kept him from establishing himself as a permanent fixture at the top.
Meanwhile, Sinner has surged ahead, winning his first Grand Slam at the 2024 Australian Open and following it up with another triumph in Melbourne in 2025, taking down Alexander Zverev in the final. Alcaraz has already built a three-Slam resume, leaving Rune as the odd man out in tennis’ youth revolution.
Rune: No Panic, Just Improvement
Despite his lack of Grand Slam success, Rune insists that major changes are not necessary. Instead, he wants to fine-tune his game the way Alexander Zverev has in recent years.
“It’s not like I need to change everything in my game,” Rune said ahead of Denmark’s Davis Cup tie against Serbia. “You look at someone like Alexander Zverev—he has improved a lot lately. Before his injury, he was top five consistently, but he has improved again recently and will be a big contender for the Grand Slams this year.”
“That’s what I want to do as well now. My next step is not to win a particular tournament. It’s just to maximize my potential, and I believe if I can do that, I can win big matches and win Grand Slams.”
A Harsh Self-Assessment: Rune Admits to 18 Months of Complacency
For all his confidence, Rune is also brutally honest about his own mistakes. The 21-year-old Dane acknowledged that he simply didn’t put in the work after his Paris Masters win, allowing bad habits to creep into his game.
“The last couple of years have been good and challenging in many ways. It all happened very quickly for me with that win in Paris, and that was nice, but it was stressful in some moments, especially when I started playing badly at the end of 2023.”
He admitted that outside noise and pressure played a role in his struggles.
“You can say there was a lot of pressure after I won a big tournament and beat Djokovic in the final, or you can view it differently and say it’s amazing that people believe in me and have high expectations for me to be a great player. I have always believed in myself, but over the last one-and-a-half years, I haven’t put the right work in.”
Rune now claims to be back on track, stating that he is focused on his training, his mentality, and his future rather than dwelling on past failures.
“Now that I am putting the right work in, I hope the rewards will come.”
Davis Cup Opportunity: A Chance to Reignite His Season
Rune’s Denmark squad received an unexpected boost in their Davis Cup matchup against Serbia, as Novak Djokovic withdrew due to injury.
With Serbia’s best player out, Denmark’s odds of advancing have improved significantly, and Rune now has an opportunity to lead his country in a major international competition—a stage where young stars often find their confidence.
Can Rune Finally Take the Next Step?
The question remains: Is Holger Rune destined to be a tennis superstar, or will he fall into the trap of wasted potential?
- His talent is undeniable.
- His mental resolve is improving.
- His competition is getting tougher.
The time for Rune to break through is now. If he wants to join Sinner and Alcaraz in tennis’ next golden era, he will need to convert promise into results—starting with the 2025 season.
With a new mindset, a fresh hunger, and the lessons of past mistakes, Rune might just be ready to reclaim his place at the top.
But in a sport where history only remembers champions, the clock is ticking.