Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Holger Rune

Press Conference

H. RUNE/S. Tsitsipas

6-4, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Holger, what are you most inspired by with today's performance?

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, I think a lot of good things today. I think my tweener was not bad (smiling). No, but I think I was returning well, and obviously Stefanos and I, we've played each other and practiced with each other a bunch of times, so we know each other's game very well.

I think I have great memories playing him and great experience all the way from the first time when I played him in French Open in Paris, so I know my game plan very well, and I tried to execute, which I did well today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Your first top-10 win on an outdoor hard court. Did it feel like a significant moment?

HOLGER RUNE: I didn't know at all, actually. I don't really count them. Of course it's great. I think outdoor hard courts was probably the surface that took me more time to get used to, because in Denmark we play either on clay in the summer and indoor in winter.

As growing up, we didn't play much outdoor hard court. It's quite important to be good on this surface, because the majority of the tournaments are on outdoor hardcourt.

Yeah, and I feel good. Also I felt good here last year. I like the conditions. It was a nice day today.

Q. Did the tweener look better when you watched it on the phone or did it feel better on the court?

HOLGER RUNE: I think it felt better on the court, actually, but it also looked good on the phone, definitely.

You know, I kind of, you know, had the expectation that I looked like Roger Federer when I hit it, and I didn't quite do that. So that was disappointing, you know. Definitely felt better (smiling).

Q. I saw some people with the Denmark flag. Was just wondering what's it like to come into a tournament like this and see people representing your country or showing support for you and your country?

HOLGER RUNE: It's great. I think I've received a lot of love and great support in this tournament. Even playing Fritz last year here, I remember it was a great atmosphere. Even for me, you know, playing a player that's it's his home court almost.

I think the crowd is really respectful. They really support great tennis, and they are here for, yeah, for the good matches. You know, me, I try to give up a fight and do as good as possible. Definitely seeing Danish flag, as you say, and people from Denmark traveling here to watch me play is really great.

Especially after I played Davis Cup where we managed to beat Serbia 3-2, I think, you know, I got more Danish people into tennis, which is a phenomenal feeling.

Q. Obviously you played a good match. You said that you thought you did. Was there something that was working exceptionally well today? Your serve, your forehand, in your opinion?

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, I think I served way better than I did the match before, and I hit my forehand also better. To be honest, I played two lefties in the first two rounds, so that was tricky to find the rhythm.

I thought conditions and also playing a righty was easier today. Obviously, as I said, I know Stefanos well, so I know how his ball feels. You know, I just felt better in general. I felt better on my movement, better on my return, better on my serve, better forehand. Backhand, I think the same as the last days, I've been satisfied with that.

Yeah, I think about three to four things definitely I improved. You know, I had a good practice day yesterday where I was very determined and very a lot focusing on the details, the shots. That was very important for today's match.

Q. I know you're a super ambitious player with high hopes to get to the top of the game. You spent 2023 most of the year in the top 10, some in the top 5. Has it been hard to be patient for your time to come after these last 52 weeks and kind of just wait for yourself to blossom in some ways?

HOLGER RUNE: Definitely, but, you know, I have learned my lessons. Things doesn't happen without a reason. I think every player deserve to be where they are, so I deserve to be at my ranking. Whoever is at their ranking deserve, because it's about, you know, making results, but at the same time improving your game and having stability.

I think, you know, what I have done much better in this tournament so far is my mentality. Been more consistent there. This also results in, you know, better result and more consistent game, I would say.

Because I don't believe I have become the worse player the last two years. I actually think the opposite. I think I have become a better all-around player.

Yeah, mentally I feel good right now. I feel very composed on the court, and yeah, I'm just going day by day.

Q. You said you're an emotional player. What are you doing to try and find that balance between staying excited and into the match but also not expending too much energy and also not losing control of your emotions, not getting too high, too low? How do you go about doing that?

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, I think, you know, honestly I just try to be myself really. You know, I try not to waste too much energy when things goes against me, because, you know, obviously we all have a certain amount of energy in our body, and I try to use it to my advantage, I would say.

So definitely on great points I try to show my emotion. It's pretty natural for me. When I do something bad or miss a shot, I try not to show too much, because, you know, it's over, you know, it's in the past already. Just stay in the moment.

I think obviously a day like today, you know, everything is easier because I was playing well, but definitely the match against Humbert was tough there. I really had to show my mindset and show my fighting spirit, because nothing was easy in that match.

I think that match, you know, it's like a match, after that, you know, you don't have the feeling like, wow, I just played amazing or I just feel the ball great, but I was really happy on how I handle the things, because winning that match means that I gave myself the chance to play better today which I fortunately did. So that's a very good feeling.

Q. How do you feel generally? There have been some ups and downs in the last year or so with results and rankings, et cetera. When you look back on yourself, are you enjoying it now as much as when you started to make the breakthrough?

HOLGER RUNE: Right now I'm enjoying it as much, yes. But definitely been some moment where I didn't. But I think this is normal.

You know, when you have these expectations and you don't quite, like, live up to them, of course it's disappointing, but, you know, it's very basic and it's very maybe boring to say, but I just love tennis. So even not being satisfied with my results, I still love to go down to the practice court and hit forehands, backhands, work on my shots, my physicality.

I think I'm living my dream, and definitely it's a nicer feeling when it also goes together on the match court. But as I said, I think this is mentally, and I think I have managed to do that better in this tournament. I'm going to try to still do it, because the tournament isn't over yet. So just going to, yeah, stay in the moment.