‘DREAMS THAT SEEM UNREALISTIC FOR OTHERS’, HOLGER RUNE ON CHASING A FIRST MAJOR, MEETING USAIN BOLT, THE POWER OF SELF-BELIEF, AND EXCLUSIVE
Speed is one of the attributes that allowed Danish tennis player Holger Rune, who was just 20 years old, to get to the fourth spot in the world rankings.
He claims to be so quick that he wouldn’t mind giving the 100-meter dash a shot.
In a recent exclusive interview with Olympics.com, he said, “In the off-season, I ran a 100-meter run only with running shoes on, and I did approximately 12 seconds.” “So, in that case, I think I may be doing very well.”
Rune, who is now 21 years old, has selected his sport, though, and his ascent in it has matched his speed on the court. In the 2022 Paris Masters, at the age of 19, he shocked Novak Djokovic in a thrilling final by surprising five opponents ranked in the Top 10.
Rune made his first significant impression on the tennis world stage by going blow for blow with one of the game’s all-time greats. What has made him unique are his unshakeable self-belief and confidence.
Speaking about that notion during a video conversation from his training facility in Monaco last month, he added, “It’s actually always been in me.”
“It’s true that there is no such thing as “crazy” in tennis—you just need to have a little insane faith in yourself,” he continued. “You need to have these lofty goals that most people find unattainable. However, I think they exist. The most crucial point is that it doesn’t matter what other people think since they will never succeed. It’s crucial, in my opinion, to have big dreams and surround yourself with supportive and believing others.”
Rune, who is ranked 13th in Roland-Garros 2024, has advanced to the quarterfinals in the last two French Opens—his first at the Paris Grand Slam—and is expected to play a significant role in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris on his favorite clay court.
He is also really excited about making his Olympic debut.
He laughed and continued, “I don’t want to simply go into the tournament and be a tourist, you know?” “Of course, I want to cause damage. I’d like to finish everything.”
