Holger Rune Reflects on Growth Ahead of Indian Wells Final
Holger Rune believes he has made significant mental improvements since his last Masters final, claiming he now handles pressure better and feels less stressed on the court.
On Saturday, the 12th seed secured a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Daniil Medvedev, marking his first-ever win against the Russian and booking his spot in his first Indian Wells final.
For the 21-year-old Dane, this is his first final since falling to Grigor Dimitrov in the Brisbane final at the start of 2024. It also marks his first Masters final in nearly two years.
Rune burst onto the scene by stunning Novak Djokovic in the 2022 Paris Masters final, but he fell short in his next two Masters championship matches—losing to Andrey Rublev in the 2023 Monte Carlo final and Medvedev in Rome later that year.
A win over Jack Draper in the Indian Wells final would give Rune his first title since April 2023, when he triumphed at an ATP 250 event in Munich.
Rune: ‘I See Things More Clearly Now’
Reflecting on his growth, Rune acknowledged that his mental approach has evolved significantly:
“I think the biggest difference is that I’m more experienced mentally. I stress less than I used to, and I see things much more clearly now,” Rune shared.
“Of course, my level was high back then too—there’s a reason I reached those finals. But now, I feel clearer in my mindset. I know I have to go for it. Tomorrow, it won’t be handed to me—I have to put in the work.”
Rune struggled with consistency from mid-2023 through the end of 2024, but he now appears to be rediscovering his best form. Winning Indian Wells could set the stage for a strong 2025 season and reaffirm his place among the game’s elite.
