Holger Rune, the Danish tennis sensation who once toppled Novak Djokovic in the Paris Masters final at the tender age of 19, has been out of the limelight in recent years. However, the 21-year-old is far from being a has-been and is determined to reclaim his position at the pinnacle of the sport.
The year 2022 was a memorable one for Rune. He stunned the tennis world by winning the Paris Masters, vanquishing reigning champion Djokovic in the process. This victory catapulted him into the company of rising stars such as Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, marking him as a future great of the game.
However, the subsequent years have not unfolded as planned for the young Dane. While his contemporaries have racked up Grand Slam titles, Rune’s career has hit a roadblock. His ranking has taken a hit, his title-winning streak has dried up, and he hasn’t won a trophy in almost two years.
In spite of these setbacks, Rune, who once held the world No. 4 spot, remains optimistic about his future in tennis. He etched his name in the annals of the sport with his Paris Masters triumph, defeating five top-10 players on the way – a feat no man had accomplished outside of the ATP Finals.
Rune had a spectacular run in Paris, where he saved match points against three-time Major winner Stan Wawrinka, and defeated the likes of Hubert Hurkacz, Andrey Rublev, Carlos Alcaraz, and Felix Auger-Aliassime to reach the final. He turned the tables on Djokovic in the championship match, recovering from a set down to clinch the trophy. This made him the youngest champion of the tournament since 1986 and propelled him into the top 10.
However, Rune’s winning streak was short-lived. Despite reaching a career-high ranking of No. 4, beating Djokovic again in Rome, and making it to two Grand Slam quarter-finals, Rune’s career began to falter. His ranking slid out of the top 15, he hasn’t added to his title tally since April 2023, and the tennis world has shifted its focus to upcoming prodigies like Joao Fonseca and Learner Tien.
Rune, however, has not lost faith in his abilities. He dismisses the naysayers who underestimate his potential and is eager to remind them of his past triumphs. In his own words, “I won a Masters 1000 against Novak Djokovic in the final when I was 19 years old. I think that says it pretty well. But it’s all about consistency. That is what I am trying to find.”
Off the court, Rune has faced challenges with his coaching staff, going through several high-profile mentors like Patrick Mouratoglou, Boris Becker, and Severin Luthi in quick succession. He is currently focused on establishing stability within his team.
“I’m very hopeful in this moment. I feel like things are getting better together. Consistency in my team, working dedicatedly and trusting what I’m doing is a nice feeling,” Rune noted.
While he acknowledges that he struggled more in recent years, he’s not putting any undue pressure on himself. “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 concluded, hinting at a promising comeback.