Holger Rune will be a key player for Denmark as they prepare for their opening round in the Davis Cup. The team is gearing up for their clash with Serbia, although the Serbian side will be without its star player due to an injury sustained at the Australian Open.
Speaking at a press conference, the Danish tennis star reflected on his recent defeat to Jannik Sinner in Melbourne and opened up about his career and aspirations.
“The last few years have been exciting and positive in many ways. Everything happened so quickly for me, especially after my win in Paris-Bercy. That victory was amazing, but it also brought a lot of pressure and stressful moments, particularly when my form dipped at the end of 2023. Now, I feel like I’m back on track. I don’t dwell on the past—I focus on the present and the future because that’s what I can control.”
Reflecting on his career-defining victory over Novak Djokovic in the Paris Masters final, Rune acknowledged the high expectations placed upon him.
“On one hand, winning a big tournament like that brought a lot of pressure. But on the other hand, I see it as something positive. It’s incredible that people believe in my tennis and have such high hopes for me. I prefer to embrace that belief and take on the challenge.”
When asked about his ambition to win a Grand Slam, Rune made it clear that external pressure does not faze him.
“I don’t feel pressure when I step on the court. I don’t tell myself that I must win a particular match just because of expectations. I’m naturally competitive, but I’ve learned that when you’re young, you don’t have all the answers. The key is understanding how to respond to success and pushing yourself to work even harder after every victory.
“I’ve always had confidence in myself, but over the past year and a half, I didn’t work as hard as I should have. Now, I’m fully committed, and I hope the results will follow. Without constant improvement in my tennis, fitness, and mental game, I won’t be able to take that next step. Anyone can say they want to win a Grand Slam, but achieving it takes real work—and that’s exactly what I’m doing.”
