It suits to explain Holger Rune–the sixth-ranked male tennis participant on the planet heading into the French Open–when it comes to temperature. His focus and willpower are stone chilly, greatest evinced by the way in which he perpetually stalks the again of the court docket throughout play. He can go from heated a few name to rifling off an unfazed frozen-rope forehand to get again on monitor. And his irises are the colour of ice-sheathed slate. They don’t do an excellent job of hiding his aim: to be and to remain on the apex of the sport. “From the day he mentioned he needed to be the most effective on the planet, round age six or seven,” says his mom and supervisor, Aneke, “I noticed fireplace in his eyes.”
Rune is now twenty, and that benchmark may be very a lot inside attain. The day earlier than the French Open started, we met at his resort in a leafy enclave of western Paris, not removed from Stade Roland Garros’ hallowed red-clay grounds. Spring was in full swing, and, on this explicit arrondissement, it appeared to chill out each its denizens, sunning of their gardens, and drop-ins, many right here for the match, alike. Rune, 6’2” with large strides, ambled calmly by the room, casually tossing his tennis bag on the ground earlier than taking a seat. “I simply skilled with Tommy Paul,” he mentioned, settling in. “It was kind of a observe match, with an umpire, ball children, a crowd. It was enjoyable. Good enjoyable.” He smiled vast. That is one other Rune trait, although perhaps much less apparent. On court docket, he’s stern-faced, and, not occasionally, visibly displeased about one factor or one other. However in any other case, he seems to be genuinely, expressively glad–a man who’s downright “obsessed” with tennis. “You must be,” he mentioned, smiling once more.
A former world primary on the junior circuit (he really received the French Open Boys’ title in 2019), the Danish Rune turned professional in 2020. His climb actually received began in 2022: He took the BMW Open final Might in Munich (which he received once more just some weeks in the past), delivered a breakthrough into the quarters eventually yr’s French Open, and secured the Stockholm Open in October. He then scored a singular second in tennis historical past: Rune clinched the Rolex Paris Masters in November, within the course of changing into the primary man ever to defeat 5 top-10 gamers in a single match, together with Novak Djokovic. In 2023, he’s additionally made it to the finals of two high-profile, high-level occasions: the Monte-Carlo Masters and the Italian Open, taking second place to Andrey Rublev and Daniil Medvedev, respectively. Through the clay court docket season this yr, he usually sported a camouflaging monochrome Nike set. Dripped in a terra cotta tone that blended with the court docket’s floor, on TV in Monaco and Rome he appeared like one thing of a red-earth wraith, haunting the corners and executing frighteningly good shot-making.
He’s nonetheless younger sufficient that every of those tournaments—the triumphs and the almost-triumphs—are formative studying experiences. “[Paris] gave me a number of perception,” mentioned Rune. “That I may beat these prime gamers. However even from wins, it’s important to transfer forward shortly. It’s about consistency–and with the ability to do it once more.” Relating to the runner-up slots in Monaco and Italy: “If I’m being sincere, I [wasn’t] courageous sufficient in these finals.”
Rune has often drawn ire for his conduct and antics on court docket. He isn’t a “dangerous boy,” as some have labeled him–there could also be racket tossing, however there is no such thing as a racket-snapping, and no bullying. But he does usually have one thing to say. He isn’t afraid to argue with umpires, or incense crowds. His disposition has often irked some gamers on the tour (Stan Wawrinka and Casper Ruud amongst them). Most notably, his aggressive mannerisms are markedly totally different from the cohort of tennis’s rising younger male stars: the 20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz is just a little snappier and springier and the 21-year-old Jannik Sinner is extra stoic. However, Rune’s fashion is extra pointedly tactical. It’s emotional. It’s fiery. And even when which means alienating the odd viewers or opponent, he’s OK with it.
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