Holger Rune arrives at ATP Toronto 2023 wanting to continue a season full of good moments. The Dane will especially want to go one step further in Masters 1000: he has reached two finals this year, but in both he stayed on the edge (Monte Carlo and Rome). Will Canada be a good luck charm?
What is the most difficult thing to face against Carlos Alcaraz
“The energy that he transfers to the court is very difficult to match. In addition, he has enormous variety in his tennis, it is not about a single shot, his entire game is dangerous, he is capable of varying it when he needs it and getting his opponent to feel very uncomfortable. There aren’t many players capable of doing that nowadays, so it’s definitely a big advantage for him,” he said. Holger Rune about Carlos Alcaraz in the Press conference prior to ATP Toronto 2023.
The return of Caroline Wozniacki, his compatriot, with whom he was training a few days ago
“It’s very exciting. I trained with her a couple of days ago in Monaco and she’s feeling the ball very well, she didn’t miss too much. In a way I was surprised that she played so well, but I also know that she has enormous determination when she sets her mind to something I am convinced that she will do well, it is clear that there will be nerves, but once she gets her rhythm back I think she will be a very dangerous player again”.
On whether Carlos’ title at Wimbledon motivates him even more in order to win a Grand Slam
“I’m always very motivated by that, long before he won a Grand Slam. I have my own goals that I want to achieve and I have a chance to achieve them this year, so I’m going to go for it.”
What do you base your success on?
“First of all I base myself on my own improvements and evolution, whether it’s around my game, my physique, because that’s what I can control 100%. From there, I’ll probably focus on the objectives at the ranking level, but it is rather my coaches and my work team who point out these possibilities and talk about that at ‘x’ point of the year they would like to see me in ‘x’ position in the ranking. win tournaments. I would rather win a Grand Slam and be number six in the world than not win any Grand Slam and be number one in the world. I rely more on tournaments.”
Has the position you are in now, top-10 for a good part of the year, changed the way you see yourself and work?
“It’s a good question. I like to see myself in my current position, because it allows me to have a better ranking for tournaments and a better seeding position. Of course, it’s still not something that makes me satisfied, I would like to continue to grow and go further. Obviously, I’m very proud of the path I’ve traveled and where it’s come from, it’s taken a lot of work to be here. I’m ready to give it my all in the remainder of the year.”
The supposed ‘Big Three’ of the future with Carlos, Jannik and him
“I know that there are people who talk about it, but I think it is too early to say anything. Only one of the three of us has won a Grand Slam, and that is Carlos. We are young, we have time on our side, but we have to sign those results. I have to focus on myself, and I’m sure Jannik and Carlos think the same. I guess it’s a good debate and a good conversation about this sport, but it’s still early days.”
The champion mentality, are you born with it or can you develop it?
“I think there are some players, I wouldn’t say they are ‘made of a different material’, but from a young age, thanks to the way their parents raised or educated them, they are different from others and make other types of decisions throughout his life. I don’t think you were born to win Grand Slams, it’s something you learn along the way. You don’t win Grand Slams with tennis, but with your fighting spirit and your sacrifice. It takes a lot of hard work, much more than it takes to hit a good backhand or a good forehand.”
2023-08-07 13:16:39
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