Holger Rune candidly expressed in a recent press conference his thoughts on his defeat to Jack Draper in the Indian Wells final. Despite acknowledging Draper’s deserving victory, the Dane conceded he could have adopted a more assertive stance during the match to exert greater pressure on his British opponent.
Draper, fresh off his historic victory against Carlos Alcaraz – the first tennis star to achieve such a feat since 2022 – continued his winning streak by defeating Rune 6-2, 6-2, securing his inaugural Masters title. The Brit displayed a dominant performance from the start, leading the scoring with two consecutive breaks and a 4-0 advantage. Draper maintained his momentum in the second set, securing two additional breaks and eventually closing the match without giving Rune a single break point opportunity. Among his impressive stats from the final were ten successful aces and four conversions from seven break point opportunities.
Rune’s reflection on the final revealed an acceptance of Draper’s superiority on the court that day. However, he also expressed a hint of regret, suggesting he could have trusted himself more and taken greater risks with his shots.
In Rune’s words, “I believe I could have done my part better. I had some opportunities to play more aggressively that I didn’t fully seize. I’ve performed well throughout this tournament and made smart tactical decisions, but I didn’t fully commit to my aggressive game.” Rune further explained that his hesitation to fully trust his game that day may have been his downfall. “Jack was in excellent form, but I didn’t seize the few chances I had to truly challenge him,” he confessed.
Rune, who has not won a title since his 2023 Munich victory, continues to seek an end to his title drought. Despite the defeat, the 21-year-old remains positive, viewing his first Masters final in two years as a significant step forward. Looking ahead, Rune is determined to use this experience as a building block for his upcoming performance at the Miami Masters. The world No. 12 is geared up to trust his aggressive game more and seize every opportunity that comes his way.
