Fearless and relentless: Holger Rune is ready for Wimbledon

With a mix of fearless ambition and relentless determination, Holger Rune has reached the world’s top ten of professional tennis players. Chatting to Scan Magazine, the Danish star shares his unwavering passion for the sport, his two inspiring book releases, and his next goal on the ATP Tour – Wimbledon.

The highest-ranked male Danish tennis player of all-time, Holger Rune goes from strength to strength. Earlier this year, the 22-year-old won Barcelona Open, beating Carlos Alcaraz in two sets. His first ATP 500 title, the victory also put him back in the Top 10 of the PIF ATP Rankings. “Winning Barcelona Open was a great boost for the confidence and proof that I’m back on track,” he smiles. “It also means that I can trust all the hard work that I’ve put in and continue to have faith in my own game.”

In the recent Roland Garros in Paris, Rune reached the fourth round. He is the youngest player to have done so in all of his four appearances in the men’s singles at the French tournament, since Rafael Nadal managed to do the same in 2008. “Roland Garros means a lot to me, it’s one of my favourite tournaments and I have played there both as a junior and as a pro,” says Rune. “My preparations this year were solid, and I felt strong, but we all know that tennis is a bit of a roller coaster, and you can never predict how it’s actually going to play out on the court.”

The road to the world’s top ten

From a young age, Rune has had his sights firmly set on reaching the top. Starting out at the age of six, playing with his four-year-older sister Alma, he eventually joined the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy in southern France as a 13-year-old. As a junior, he was ranked number one in the world and won Roland Garros for junior players.

When Rune turned professional in 2020, at the age of 16, he quickly moved up among the very best. In 2022, he broke into the Top 100 and within the year reached the Top 10. In the 2022 Rolex Paris Masters, he became the first man to beat five of the top ten players in the same tournament. Named 2022 ATP Newcomer of the Year, Rune eventually peaked as number four in the world the following year.

Known for his unwavering passion and high energy on the court, the fearless player openly shares his ambitions. “I’ve always wanted to be number one in everything I do,” he says. “I love playing tennis and will do whatever it takes to reach the top. I find my strength in this goal, it gives me energy to continue training every day and the adrenaline I need during the matches.”

Rune is nothing less than a perfectionist with his training, having worked rigorously to develop a powerful and fast-paced game that has proven highly effective on the court. Praising his supportive family and coaches, he also emphasises the importance of discipline. “If you want to be the best, you have to sacrifice a few things. It’s important to be disciplined and keep a good balance of healthy food, enough sleep, and physical training, as is having the right team around you.”

Holger Rune has developed a powerful and fast-paced game, which is highly effective on the court. Here at Hamburg Open. Photo: Witters

Next Gen and behind the scenes

Not surprisingly, the achievements of tennis players such as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have had a big influence on the young Dane, as has their friendship on and off the court. During training sessions ahead of the tournament’s start at Roland Garros, Rune honoured Nadal by wearing a t-shirt from the now-retired Spanish mega star’s collection, admiring his fighting spirit and mental strength.

Part of the new generation of top players on the ATP Tour, Rune has his own neck and neck competitor in Carlos Alcaraz, similarly to Nadal and Federer. Born just six days apart, the two first crossed paths on the junior tour when they were 11. But regardless of tournament and opponent, Rune remains authentic in his approach; “I want to keep my identity and at the same time be a great player, a great person, and a great athlete.”

Already inspiring the younger generation himself, Rune released two books last year. Holger Rune – på og uden for banen (Holger Rune – on and off the court), written by Peter Christensen, gives an insight into the life of a professional tennis player. Following the star to the four major Grand Slams – Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open – readers can hear about his experiences as both a junior and senior player. The book also includes tips and tricks on training, nutrition and equipment.

Photos: Gyldendal

The second book, Hvor er Holger Rune? – I en verden fuld af tennis (Where is Holger Rune? – In a world full of tennis), co-written with Jakob Wedendahl, has a younger audience in mind. Here, readers come along on the Grand Slam tournaments and learn about the big cities – Melbourne, Paris, London and New York – as well as some famous tennis players, and, of course, they have the chance to get up close to Rune.

“It has been really fun, different and also surprisingly emotional to invite readers into my tennis universe,” he admits. “I have a huge passion for tennis, which has meant so much and brings great emotions and joy every single day. With these books, I hope to spread the same joy and inspire both adults and children to grab a racket and share the passion with me.”

Cincinnati 2024.

Coming up; Wimbledon’s grass court

Seemingly unphased by the fast-paced tennis world, Rune also starred in the second season of the Netflix documentary series Break Point, which was released last year. Travelling alongside some of the world’s best tennis players, the show provided a realistic image, including highs and lows, of the life of professional tennis players.

Currently ranked number nine in the world, Rune is already looking forward to the next challenge in his pursuit to reach number one: Wimbledon in London. The tournament kicks off on 30 June and has the world’s attention for the next two weeks.

Following Wimbledon, the young player aims to take a couple of weeks off, at least from life on tour. “It will probably be a break combined with some training. You know, I’m only 22 and have a lot of energy, so I don’t really think much about the need for holidays,” he laughs and winks.

Name: Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune
Age: 22
Birthplace: Gentofte, Denmark
Family: father Anders, mother Aneke, sister Alma
Base: Monaco
Turned pro: 2020
Coach: Lars Christensen, Kenneth Carlsen
Current ranking: 9
Source: www.atptour.com

Follow Holger Rune on Instagram: @holgerrune

Holger Rune’s advice for better tennis training:

• If you want to get better, remember to constantly challenge yourself.
• If you feel that you don’t hit the ball right, it’s because you’re not in position. Slow legs are your worst enemy when it comes to hitting quality strokes.
• Remember that it’s ok to make mistakes in your training. If you don’t make mistakes, you haven’t gone beyond what you already know.
• Things take time. It’s necessary to be patient if you want to get better. You have to do lots of repetitions, for something to get really good.
• Remember to have fun. In general, you will play your best tennis when you’re in a good mood.
Source: Holger Rune - på og uden for banen (Holger Rune - on and off the court) by Peter Christensen.