In the Beijing ATP 500, Holger Rune defeated Felix Auger Aliassime 6-4 6-4 in his first match in China.
Rune was not enjoying himself because he hadn’t played since the US Open in late August and hadn’t won a major tournament since Wimbledon when he first got to Asia.
Despite lately experiencing bodily problems, the 20-year-old put out a heroic effort at the Olympic Green Tennis Center in Beijing, eliminating the Canadian.
In a subsequent interview, Rune talked about this and stated, It was a fantastic feeling. I’m glad to be feeling well again because I had a tough time with the matches’ conditions and my physical condition.
Both on and off the court, I feel mentally well. I’m rather pleased with my performance today.
Rune’s back issue also prevented him from being present in the Laver Cup, when his Europe team lost badly to the World team.
He declared, I felt great. My body was feeling nothing. That’s excellent. Although I don’t mind painful muscles, it’s nice to feel good on the court because I’m too young to be dealing with these types of issues.
I take good care of my body, I feel well, and I enjoy playing without experiencing any pain.
Presently ranked fourth in the world (a career high), the Dane finished 2023 with a record of 38-17 wins and losses.
Holger is presently on a tear in Beijing, having defeated the world’s No. 15 player. 6-4 6-4 Felix Auger-Aliassime.
On Sunday at 7:30 pm on DIAMOND, Holger Rune will take on Grigor Dimitrov, the world no. 19 ranked player, in the second round. For Rune, they currently have a 1-0 record.
In 2023, the Dane won one title in Munich. Holger finished second at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome and the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters in Monte-Carlo.
Throughout his career, the Dane won four titles—two on indoor courts and two on clay courts.(Refer to his title list.)
After Shanghai, he is also expected to perform at the Stockholm Open in Stockholm. October 4th will mark the beginning of the main draw.
The Danish tennis prodigy Holger Rune, who was heralded as the sport’s future, has been struggling with a number of early eliminations in recent competitions, including the China Open, where he managed to win in the initial round only once.
After Wimbledon, Rune’s once-promising season took a turn for the worse as a string of first-round losses became the norm.
Early in the year, the young player had shown promise by making it to the championship rounds of major tournaments like the Italian Open and the Monte Carlo Masters. But since Wimbledon, Rune hasn’t been able to advance past the first round of the competition.
Rune, who is presently placed fourth in the ATP rankings, made a forthright admission after his departure from the China Open, blaming his poor play on ongoing injuries.
He said that throughout the clay season, he experienced a pinch in the L5 nerve, which is the fifth lumbar vertebra of the spine, which prevented him from playing at his optimal level.
Rune emphasized his resolve to make things right by expressing his commitment to getting past these health problems and returning to his best form.
His powers have been severely compromised by the injury; he can no longer earn crucial free points and his serve speed has changed.
Due to his recent tour being interrupted by injuries, the Danish player had to withdraw from competitions like as the Laver Cup.
Rune’s persistent endeavors to tackle his health issues are indicative of his dedication to regaining optimal performance and fulfilling his potential in the tennis arena.
