Holger Rune recently claimed that the top-ranked duo, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, feel “uncomfortable” while playing against him. The 22-year-old feels it is time to disrupt the “boring” rivalry that has dominated the world of tennis in the past couple of years.
Sinner and Alcaraz are competing at the Miami Open while Rune is recovering from a long-term Achilles tendon injury he sustained last October at the Stockholm Open. In their past encounters, the former World No. 4 has frustrated Alcaraz, boasting a 2-2 record.
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Holger notched victories at the 2025 Barcelona Open final and the 2022 Paris Masters quarter-final, while Alcaraz claimed victories during the 2023 Wimbledon quarter-final and 2021 Next Gen ATP Finals.
The young Dane has emerged triumphant in two out of his five clashes against Sinner. Holger ousted the Italian at the 2023 Monte-Carlo Master and 2022 Sofia Open semi-finals. On the other hand, Sinner has won the 2025 Australian Open Round of 16, the 2024 Monte-Carlo Masters quarter-finals, and the 2023 ATP Finals.
As Rune gets closer to the on-field action, he remains confident about his chances to “beat them”, which further fuels his “motivation”.
“It gives me the belief that I know I can do it, and every time I step [on court] against them, I know I have a chance to beat them. And I know that both of them find it uncomfortable to play me, so that’s extra motivation for me,” Rune said while speaking on the Tales from Tennis Podcast.
“And yeah, I always had great matches with Jannik, even before he turned out as a Grand Slam champion; he was always an incredible player. I think it’s always been an exciting matchup with me and both of them,” Rune added.
Rune believes staying consistent every week and playing more often against the duo will take his game to the next level. According to him, it is necessary to shake up the current hegemony, as two players winning almost every title gets “boring”.
“So, for my case, it’s about being as consistent as to do it every week to give myself the chance to play them much more often. And I think that would also make my level increase a lot, because they get to challenge themselves almost every week against each other,” Holger Rune said.
“With just two guys making finals and winning everything, it gets boring to be honest. I think there needs to be more guys to challenge them, not just one tournament, but consistently,” he remarked.
Holger Rune addresses criticism surrounding his hasty return
Last December, Holger Rune faced harsh criticism for rushing his comeback to competitive tennis just two months after undergoing surgery. For the unversed, Rune was forced to retire in the Nordic Open semi-finals after suffering an injury in his Achilles tendon during the second set in Stockholm.
He was expected to stay on the sidelines for several months, but he resumed training soon, drawing stern criticism. Rune admitted that he was convinced that he would be “much better” once he made his return to competitive action.
“I have no doubt that I’m going to come back much better. I’m convinced. Now I take things with much more perspective; there’s nothing I take for granted. I’ve learned to appreciate every day,” Holger Rune said (as reported by Punto de Break)
As of now, there is no time frame for Rune’s comeback. Holger Rune admitted he isn’t sure about the timing of his return. Holger suggested that he could be back as soon as the clay season ends, depending on the pace of his rehabilitation.
Edited by Riddhiman Sarkar
