(Toronto) Holger Rune came like a bombshell, in 2022, disrupting the global elite. The Dane has made a name for himself quickly and he wants to win just as quickly. A year later, he is one of the faces of a new generation.
Rune is barely 20 years old and he is already threatening the top 5.
Well established in sixth place since May, Rune is still surfing on its end of the magic season, a few months ago.
In one month, he had reached the final in Sofia, triumphed in Stockholm against Stefanos Tsitsipas, lost in the final in Basel against Félix Auger-Aliassime and won the Paris Masters 1000 against Novak Djokovic.
So far, his year 2023 has been quite cheerful. He won a title in Munich, on clay, and reached two Masters 1000 finals, in Rome and Monte-Carlo.
At this early stage of his career, Rune calculates his progress through his ranking. A year ago, he was ranked 28th in the world. Two years ago, he was 190th.
However, his real goal is to win a Grand Slam tournament title: “I would rather win a Grand Slam by being sixth in the world than not winning a Grand Slam and being number one,” he said.
So for him, “it has more to do with the number of tournaments won”.
To achieve this, Rune will have to work, and above all learn. According to the right-hander, the ability to become a champion is not innate in anyone.
“I don’t think you were born to win a Grand Slam, it’s something you learn. »
Thanks to his short experience and his learning, he believes he understood what it took to win the biggest tournaments. “I don’t think you win Grand Slams because of your tennis, but rather because of your mindset, your heart and your willpower. Novak [Djokovic] does it very well and Carlos [Alcaraz] was able to do it as well. It takes a lot more work than just having a good forehand or a good backhand. »
Seeing his old friend Carlos Alcaraz win his second major title at Wimbledon a few weeks ago didn’t motivate the Dane any further. Alcaraz had notably beaten him in three sets to accede to the throne.
“I’m still very motivated, even before he started winning Grand Slam titles. I have my own goals that I want to achieve and I hope to be able to do it this year. »
Rune will forever be compared to the Spaniard. First, because they’ve been together since the junior ranks, but also because at 20 years old, they’re the two youngest members of the top 40. These two should come face to face in many games. important over the next few years.
By dint of seeing Alcaraz, Rune and Jannik Sinner, the other youngster in the top 10, progress visibly, some observers see in this trio snippets of the next Big Three.
Obviously, the triad still have a lot to prove before they can be mentioned in the same sentence as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, but there is clearly potential.
“I’ve heard people talking about it, but I think it’s a little too soon. Only Carlos, among the three of us, is a Grand Slam champion,” the blond replied on this subject.
These three young players, barely older than the age of majority in Canada, however, have already done enough to secure themselves a place in the world elite in the long term.
His relations, he swears, are in good shape with his two acolytes.
If hugs take place each time they meet, it remains to be seen which of them will shake hands with the official last most often at the end of their many clashes. Because if they do indeed become the next Big Three, that’s what will decide them once at the finish line.
