Holger Rune remained positive after facing challenges in his tennis career. He shared his thoughts following his recent victory at Indian Wells.
Rune achieved his first major success in 2022 by winning the Paris Masters. This triumph sparked discussions about a potential “new Big Three” in the ATP Tour, alongside Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, showcasing promise for significant accomplishments.
However, since then, Alcaraz has claimed three major titles (with a win at the US Open prior to Rune’s Paris Masters success), and Sinner has added three majors to his resume as well. Meanwhile, Rune has secured only one additional title, coming in Munich in 2023.
Despite encountering setbacks over recent years, Rune’s approach to his career remains optimistic. He intensified his training efforts, which have begun to show results, most notably his progression to the quarter-finals of the 2025 Indian Wells Open.
He halted Stefanos Tsitsipas’ seven-match winning streak in the fourth round. After the match, Rune expressed his happiness with the victory.
“I think a lot of good things today. I think my tweener was not bad (smiling). No, but I think I was returning well, and obviously Stefanos and I, we’ve played each other and practiced with each other a bunch of times, so we know each other’s game very well.”
When asked about his recent struggles, Rune reflected on his past positioning within the Top 5 of the ATP Rankings and his time spent in the Top 10.
Currently, however, he finds himself outside of the Top 10, with only a title in Indian Wells promising a return to that elite status. Despite his difficulties, Rune maintains a positive perspective. He acknowledges that while he has lost more matches than desired, he has also gained valuable experience, which contributes to his development as a player.
“I have learned my lessons. Things don’t happen without a reason. I think every player deserves to be where they are, so I deserve to be at my ranking. Whoever is at their ranking deserves it because it’s about making results, but at the same time improving your game and having stability.”
“I think what I have done much better in this tournament so far is my mentality. I have been more consistent there. This also results in better results and a more consistent game, I would say. Because I don’t believe I have become the worse player in the last two years.”
“I actually think the opposite. I think I have become a better all-around player. Mentally I feel good right now. I feel very composed on the court, and I’m just going day by day.”
