Holger Rune has vowed to ‘push as hard as he can’ to achieve his main goal of the season – winning a Grand Slam title.
The 20-year-old is currently at a ranking high of No.7 in the world and is the second-youngest player in the top 10 after Carlos Alcaraz. So far this season, he has won 24 out of 33 matches played with his best result being in Munich where he claimed his fourth ATP title. Rune was also runner-up at the Monte Carlo Masters to Andrey Rublev.
Outlining his goals for the year, the Dane says he is hungry for Grand Slam glory. To date, his best performance at a major occurred last year at Roland Garros where he reached the quarter-finals before losing to Casper Ruud. He also reached the fourth round of the Australian Open in January.
“My goal is a Grand Slam. I won a Masters 1000 (Paris 2022) and I feel that the next step is a slam,” Rune told The Tennis Channel following his 6-4, 6-2, win over Fabio Fognini at the Italian Open on Sunday.
“I know it takes a lot. Maybe it will happen, maybe it doesn’t but I am going to go for it one hundred percent.’
“I feel good mentally and physically with my tennis. I’m trying to push as hard as I can for it (a Grand Slam title) and I hope it can this year.”
Rune is being billed as a member of the next Big Three of tennis. A group that also features US Open champion Alcaraz and Italy’s Jannik Sinner who is the only member yet to win a Masters trophy. It is hoped that a fierce rivalry between all three with form in the coming years.
However, Rune has insisted that the key for him is focusing on his own game. This week in Rome he is once again being mentored by Patrick Mouratoglou, as well as tennis analyst Mike James and his mother who is also at the event. Lars Christensen isn’t at the tournament but he remains a member of Rune’s team.
“It could be fun if this was the next Big 3 of the future. The future will show. I just try to focus on myself. I don’t necessarily need other players to push me. I can push myself.” Rune commented.
“It’s great to see that Alcaraz has won a slam and become world No.1. Sinner is up there, beating Alcaraz (in Miami). We had a really good battle and he is a crazy good player. The future is exciting.”
Rune will next play Australian qualifier Alexei Popyrin in Rome who defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime earlier in the tournament.
