US Open 2021: Crazy rise, 13 in a row, monster nerve… The 5 things to know about Rune that challenges Djokovic

A remarkable precocity

Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune (that’s his full name) doesn’t come out of nowhere. The Dane, who has been training for five years in Patrick Mouratoglou’s academy, first stood out among the juniors by winning Roland-Garros at 16 in 2019, becoming in the wake of the world number 1 in the category. . He is also the second youngest junior Grand Slam champion behind Félix Auger-Aliassime.

Having turned professional in 2020, he has continued to improve since then. In one year to the day, he has gained nearly 600 places in the ATP ranking, going from 732nd to 145th in the world. The objective of entering the Top 100 in the near future seems to be on the right track at this rate, especially since he already has the level to achieve it. Rune thus became last March the youngest player to play a quarter-final on the circuit in Santiago de Chile since Borna Coric in 2014 in Umag. By the way, he had notably beaten Benoît Paire, then 29th in the world, in two sets (6-2, 6-3).

13 victories in a row: he has the wind in his sails

If this August 31, 2021 will be a milestone in the career of the Dane who will discover the great picture of a Major, his brilliant qualification does not fall from the sky. Before his victories against Lukas Lacko, Mitchell Krueger and Mats Moraing in the qualifying table in New York, he remained on 10 consecutive wins. Rune has won two consecutive Challenger clay tournaments in San Marino and Verona, a performance only achieved by Nick Kyrgios, Taylor Fritz and Carlos Alcaraz under 20 since 2010.

This season, he even won three titles on the Challenger circuit, adding Bielle 7 to the two previously mentioned, as well as a final (Oeiras 4). He also beat several members of Fernando Verdasco’s Top 100 at the Lyon Open Sopra Steria to Stefano Travaglia in Kitzbühel. So his confidence is at its zenith.

Inspired by Nadal, Federer and… his sister

Winner of Roland-Garros among juniors and author of most of his notable performances on ocher, Holger Rune nurtured a certain fascination for Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard, 13 times winner on the side of the Porte d’Auteuil, was thus his first idol, before Roger Federer supplanted him in his heart. He also has certain similarities with the Swiss: right-handed and endowed with a dazzling forehand, he also uses the backhand slice quite frequently. But he hits his backhands flat and topspin with both hands.

As bright and attractive as the Spanish-Swiss duo, the Dane did not get into tennis thanks to them. Before following their exploits on television, he wanted to imitate his sister Alma from the age of six. “I thought it was a great sport. Since then, I have been passionate and it continues. That’s great“Says the young man. A passion so consuming that he can imagine an ideal day without playing tennis himself by watching others indulge in it.

A bluff that pays off to train with Djokovic

While stepping onto the huge Arthur-Ashe court might intimidate him, coming up against Novak Djokovic might not be insurmountable for Rune. Not that he is not impressed by the record and the aura of the world number 1, but he has already found himself on a court against the Serbian. What to desecrate the event. And the Dane created this exceptional opportunity on his own in March. Knowing that Djokovic had skipped the Miami Masters 1000 and after seeing him on video training on clay, he tried his luck by contacting him on Instagram.

Blow of bluff, stroke of master, since the “Djoker”, great lord, proposed to him to share two sessions at the Monte-Carlo Country Club. “He was so nice. We did two sessions of a very good level, it was great. He’s a great guy. I think his consistency, the way he hits the ball hitting the same area with so many different powers and speeds, is amazing. It was probably the most impressiveechoed Rune who had previously hit the ball with Federer and Nadal also during training at the London Masters 2019.

His greatest quality according to him? Combativeness

Technically, Holger Rune is already very developed. But he also and above all has an assertive character which could allow him to become a champion in the future and why not world number 1, his absolute dream. Moreover, he assures him, he will not enter the Arthur-Ashe court to take pictures in front of the boss of the circuit. “I believe in myself a lot, even if I face the world number 1. A lot of players would think to themselves to go out on the court, have fun, gain experience and enjoy the moment. Of course I’ll do the same, but my goal isn’t just to play“, he warns.

“My goal is to win the tournament, even several times. Maybe 90% of people would say it’s unrealistic right now, but I have to believe in myself. My coach (Lars Christensen since his beginnings, editor’s note), my mother and I improve my game and my mentality every day. I’m working really hard to make it happen. Of course he’s the huge favorite of this match: he’s world number 1 and I’m not even in the Top 100 yet. But I’m a real warrior.. “Certainly, he will not lack motivation when crossing swords with Djokovic. What to give salt to the entry into the running of the Serbian who aims a fantastic feat in New York: the calendar Grand Slam.