Christian Horner has stated that “everything is open” for Red Bull’s 2025 driver lineup, with Sergio Perez and Daniel Ricciardo both reportedly fighting for a slot.
The 2023 season was nearly perfect for Red Bull, with Max Verstappen winning his third consecutive drivers’ title and the team securing another constructors’ title, ending 451 points ahead of second-place Mercedes.
Perez also kept his half of the bargain by finishing second in the drivers’ standings, giving Red Bull its first 1-2 since entering the sport. Despite finishing second, the Mexican trailed his teammate by 290 points and had a tumultuous ride.
He had begun 2023 in impressive fashion, with two pole positions and two race wins in the first five Grands Prix, as he sought to put pressure on Verstappen. Despite having the formidable RB19 to deal with, his form dipped as he went five events without a Q3 appearance between Monaco and the British Grand Prix, limiting his points-scoring opportunities.
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“I DO NOT WANT TO BE NUMBER TWO.”
Holger Rune does not conceal his aspirations. The Dane has made it plain from the start of his professional tennis career that he intends to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
“My objective is to be the world’s number one player and win Grand Slams,” the 20-year-old told the ATP in Denmark earlier this year.
Many players are reluctant to share such grandiose aspirations. But Rune has worked too hard and travelled too far.
Rune’s life revolves around tennis, and he has given everything he has to attain his goals. Last November, the results of his efforts were visible on Championship Sunday at the Rolex Paris Masters.
After defeating four top-10 opponents in four days, the Dane faced all-time great Novak Djokovic. Rune was worried, but more determined than he was afraid. The Dane defeated Djokovic 3-6, 6-3, and 7-5 to earn his maiden ATP Masters 1000 championship.
“It felt unbelievable. “It was an extremely emotional time,” Rune explained. “[I] won the title in Stockholm, finished in Basel, and won in Paris. So I had a very long travel and run. And it was a huge relief. I was in tears after the final since it was so hard effort. I ultimately got over it and won.
“I simply had to let everything out. And to play this final versus Novak, it almost doesn’t get much greater. So that was huge for me.”
It demonstrated that Rune’s lifetime of labor was paying off.
Rune began playing tennis at the age of three in Denmark, where he played with a ball in his family’s garden. Holger’s parents, Anders and Aneke, realized he could do more with a racquet than other children his age.
“But that doesn’t imply you believe he can become a professional tennis player,” Anders added. “Of course you believe in your children. But as the process progresses, it becomes increasingly genuine.”
A large part of that process was Rune’s determination to make his ambition of being a professional tennis player a reality. He played football when he was younger, but there was something special about being in control of his own fate on the tennis field. There were advantages to being on a team, but on the football field, he could do everything correctly and yet lose.
Alma, Rune’s four-year-old sister, also played tennis. So, who better to compete with than your sibling?
“Alma was the best tennis player,” Aneke recalls. “But because he wanted to be better, every weekend in the morning he went to her room and said, ‘Wake up, Alma. “We need to go down and play tennis.”
Alma stated, “In Denmark, there is not a rich culture of elite tennis.” They were not whisked away to a top-tier academy with the world’s greatest juniors. They spent some of their most memorable childhood memories competing with one another.
“When it was close, she was cheating a little bit, and I was probably cheating a little bit, because we were so competitive,” Rune said, implying that their parents should play referee. “Everyone wanted to win. And it was fun since she was four years older than me, so she started sooner and played more. So it was great for me because I needed to maintain a high level to play with her.”
On and off the court, it was clear that Rune possessed a competitive spirit. Throughout his boyhood, the Dane had a poster of the world’s greatest player, generally Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal, on his bedroom wall. He would dress like the player and attempt to impersonate them on the court.
A young Rune, disguised as then-World No. 2 Rafael Nadal, advanced to the final of his first junior event, but lost with the title at stake.
“He went crazy because he wanted to win.” And we attempted to calm him down by saying, ‘It’s fine; go get your [runner-up] trophy.’ “He did not want to accept the trophy,” Aneke explained. “So we had to take it home from the back. When he arrived in his room, he said, “Take down Rafa.” At the time, Rafa was ranked second and Roger was ranked first. He said, “Put up, Roger.”
Rune was suddenly dressed in a polo shirt and wielding a Wilson racquet in an attempt to emulate Federer. The Rune family still has a two-meter-tall carbon cutout of the Swiss legend in their cellar.
“He responded, ‘I never want to be number two,'” Aneke recounted. “This is the worst.”
Rune was competitive both on and off the court. Whether playing cards or otherwise, the Dane was constantly looking to win.
“I remember when they were playing chess, and all of a sudden I heard like,” Aneke said, imitating a banging sound. “If Holger was behind, he was messing up, and you could hear Alma saying, ‘Oh no, Holger, come on!'”
According to Alma, Rune was “very lethargic” as a child when it comes to activities like fitness training. Holger was “a bit fat” and like cake. He still does, but as he grew older, the Dane worked hard on his trade under the mentorship of Lars Christensen, who is still an important member of Rune’s team today.
“The significant work began when he was about 12, 13 years old, and he was fairly indolent at the time and didn’t want to move very much,” Christensen recalled. “If he wanted to compete with the best and pursue his aspirations, he needed to improve his movement. I would go every day and put up drills for him, and he despised it, as well as me for doing it. But I continued going, day after day after day. [He had to] keep repeating the correct things, repeating the appropriate routines when it comes to match days, having the right routines, and having the right warm-up routines.”
“I thank him for that,” Rune remarked, laughing.
The Dane rapidly emerged as one of the world’s most promising juniors. In 2019, he won the Roland Garros boys’ singles title and thereafter became the junior World No. 1.
Rune made his ATP Tour debut in Buenos Aires in March 2021, when he was 17 years old and ranked below the world’s top 400. Less than two years later, he won in Paris-Bercy and entered the top ten of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings for the first time.
Rune has swiftly acclimated to fighting on the world’s largest stages, with an 11-9 record versus top-ten opponents. He turned 20 on April 29, but his efforts have not reflected his age.
“I think he’s very composed in difficult situations. He’s quite brave. He’s not truly terrified, despite his desire to do things perfectly,” Alma added. “I was like, ‘Wow, you’re just 19.'” And you’re playing against the best players in the world and you’re so composed. [He] has no true fear of anything. I think he’s incredibly courageous, which makes me very proud.”
Aneke travels with Holger throughout the season, and he stays in close communication with the rest of his family. As aggressive as Rune might be on the court, he is a laid-back individual who enjoys spending his free time speaking with family members. He frequently FaceTimes with his sister.
“I’d describe him as a very cheerful and sincere guy. He’s also authentic. Like Holger is Holger. “He doesn’t strive to be someone he isn’t,” Alma explained. “On the other hand, he isn’t afraid to exhibit his personality and who he is.”
At his core, Rune is a competitor. Whether he’s playing cards and chess with his sister or competing against the world’s finest players on the court, the Dane wants to win.
When ATPTour.com met with Rune before his Grand Slam main draw debut at the 2021 US Open at the age of 18, the Dane expressed no concern of his first-round opponent, Novak Djokovic, who was attempting to complete the Grand Slam in Flushing Meadows. He stated that his goal was to win the competition.
“Maybe 90% of people in the globe would think that’s unachievable right now,” Rune stated at the time. “But I need to believe in myself.”
The teenager won one set and performed admirably before losing in four sets against the eventual finalist. Just over a year later, Rune was celebrating after defeating Djokovic in Bercy.
Rune has already had an influence on the ATP Tour, and he is only getting started. Will he win a major after already winning the ATP Masters 1000 and ranking in the top ten? Will the 20-year-old eventually reach No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings?
These are unanswered questions. But it’s safe to say that Rune will do his all to make his goals a reality in the tennis world.
“I’d want to say that in every match I’ve played, I’ve given it my all, trying to play the greatest tennis I can and be as excellent as possible,” Rune stated. “I want to end my career by saying, ‘I didn’t want to do more, therefore I did everything I could. “No regrets.”
