By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, January 17, 2023
All the world’s a stage and Holger Rune is worked up increasing his star-rising position.
Nineteen-year-old Rune swept Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 to attain his first profession Australian Open win.
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An assertive Rune broke serve seven instances elevating his Grand Slam report to 6-5.
“I think I played very aggressive. You know, that’s what I’m working on with the team,” Rune advised the media in Melbourne. “We did a lot in the offseason to keep trying to come to the net and stuff, and I think it suits my game well, and I like to play that way.”
The two-hour, three-minute triumph got here on the identical day Serbian famous person Novak Djokovic made a triumphant return to Melbourne Park with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 dismissal of Roberto Carballes Baena to land within the AO second spherical for the sixteenth time.
Last fall, Rune surprised Djokovic to seize the Rolex Paris Masters championships.
Despite dramatically completely different situations within the searing Australian warmth, Rune says his Paris run fuels his Melbourne confidence.
“It’s different, but obviously Paris gave me a lot of confidence, knowing that I could, you know, beat these top guys at one of the best tournaments we have in the world,” Rune stated. “I feel good. I feel like I have a lot of confidence.”
It’s not a stretch to think about a Rune run down underneath. If seeds maintain true to kind, the ninth-seeded Rune would face fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev within the fourth spherical with the winner probably taking part in nine-time champion Djokovic within the quarterfinals.
Players know the way harmful Rune is and now producers are taking discover.
Rune revealed he is a giant fan of the Netflix collection Break Point and is now a participant within the present with a digital camera crew in tow for his Melbourne match.
“We are already starting to do it. They are filming a little bit,” Rune stated. “I think the plan is to do some filming for my next match as well.
“I’m excited to do it. I believe it’ll be nice. It’s good for tennis. It’s good for us gamers. And I believe extra followers we are able to get into the game, it is higher. I’m simply very constructive about it.”
Life as a budding Netflix star hasn’t caused Rune to lose sight of the plot: win a Grand Slam and compete for world No. 1.
“My dream is to not be film star clearly. It’s to be the perfect tennis participant,” Rune stated.
In an excellent world, maybe Rune can achieve each roles sometime: Grand Slam champion and compelling character in tennis development.
Photo credit score: Getty
