Thursday, March 13, 2025
Holger Rune
Press Conference
H. RUNE/T. Griekspoor
5-7, 6-0, 6-3
THE MODERATOR: Well done, Holger.
HOLGER RUNE: Thank you.
THE MODERATOR: Do you feel like you're playing your best tennis of the tournament?
HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, I think the results so far good. I think, as I said previously, mentally I was good. Also very good today finding solutions when it mattered. Very happy on how I found a way when it was some close moments. Tallon is a big-time player, so very happy to be through.
THE MODERATOR: Questions.
Q. You were a great problem-solver today. You really turned things around. Is that something you have been working on?
HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, definitely. I think today I lost the first set, and things in my mind in the beginning of the second set were a bit tough, because I feel like, you know, no matter what I did, he had an answer to a lot of it.
I had to change the game plan, and I started playing differently. I saw that it started to hurt him more, so I kept going. Obviously I think I managed to play a way that he didn't like as much as previously.
I think I did my part today. I found a way to win, and that's what mattered.
Q. Obviously we don't know yet, but can you look ahead to Arthur and separately about Daniil in the next round?
HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, both players are great players. Daniil, I played him last year here and after played him a couple of times as well. It's very different two players, you know, if it's going to be Medvedev or Fils, it's going to be different game plan, for sure.
Two players who are playing well this week, that's why they are in the quarters and soon one of them in the semis. I think it's going to be exciting and I'm looking forward.
Q. You spoke post-match about not wanting to lose to Tallon for the third time. Can you talk about that concept within the player locker room?
HOLGER RUNE: Yeah. Yeah, I mean, it was nice to get the first win against him, for sure. Yeah, you never want to lose to the same guy three times in a row. That was really it.
Yeah, obviously I didn't think about that on the court today, but definitely good motivation to try to beat him. Very happy that I managed to do it.
Q. You have talked this week about your mentality, wanting to stay more poised and calm and your focus on that. Do you think that's how you were able to kind of get this win today by having some clarity after a difficult first set and be able to think clearly?
HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, I think so. As I said, I tried really to find solutions, because, you know, I think I was thinking back a little bit about the Humbert match that I played, also when things didn't go my way, and I was down a break in the third.
I'm very happy that I managed to find the solution, because obviously Tallon had the lead against me. You know, leading with the first set I think gave him extra confidence to believe that he would win the match.
Really had to take a big effort from my side and a big fight and very happy I could do it. Yeah, I think I produced some good tennis today.
Q. You obviously watch a lot of tennis, and there is sort of the extremes where some players don't consume a lot of tennis and maybe rely on their coach to do a lot of scouting. Your own scouting you do, and then how you collaborate with coaching, players that you have played multiple times, how you go through that process?
HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, I don't really do the scouting. That's what my coach and my analyst does. When I said I love to watch tennis, it's more just for joy really (smiling).
But, yeah, we definitely put a lot of energy into the game plan, you know, even the night before and the day before and training and the things I have to do the day after and also on the day. So yeah, I mean, obviously everything is easier when you know the opponent.
And now, you know, being already few years on the tour, it's not many players that I haven't played, so obviously know all of their games and they know mine, as well. That's why you have to constantly improve to make it difficult for your opponent
