“My goal is to win as many grand slams as possible and become world No. 1,” Holger Rune says with calm confidence on a sweltering day in Cincinnati. “It’s very clear to me, and it’s been that way since I was a child.”
The 22-year-old Dane is currently ranked 11th in the world and has reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals and the French Open quarter-finals twice. As the US Open nears, he has yet to make a grand slam semi-final, but his bold ambition seems more grounded when you consider his strong record against the world’s top two players. Rune has faced Carlos Alcaraz four times, winning twice, including a 7-6 (6), 6-2 victory in their most recent match four months ago in the Barcelona Open final. He has also beaten Jannik Sinner in two of their five meetings.
Rune was set to face Sinner again in the Cincinnati Open semi-finals but lost in straight sets last Thursday to Térence Atmane. The French qualifier, who had only one win in five ATP Tour matches this year before Cincinnati, called his tournament run “pretty insane,” especially after also knocking out world No. 4 Taylor Fritz.
Rune’s results against lower-ranked players remain inconsistent. “My problem isn’t beating those guys,” he says of Alcaraz and Sinner. “My problem is staying consistent enough to go deep in every tournament so I get more chances to play them, because that’s when I raise my level. It’s clear that when Carlos and Jannik play each other, they push each other to play better. That’s an exciting part of the sport. Having a good record against them, and also against Novak Djokovic early on when he was at the top, shows me I can do it. I just need to deliver that level consistently.”
Off the court, Rune is friendly, though he can be intense and fiery during matches. “There have been days when I’ve wondered how it’s going to be possible,” he admits. “But I’m driven to find a way. I’m always thinking: How can I achieve my goals? What can I do better?”
He explains that he and his coach, Lars Christensen, are “working hard but also smart to improve and stay consistent. That’s the toughest part, and right now only two players on tour are really consistent—Carlos and Jannik. Everyone else loses early here and there.”
Rune is thoughtful and open in interviews, often analyzing his challenges, which he believes are mostly mental. “It starts with the mind—understanding when you’re playing well, or why you turned a match around, so you can do it again and not just by chance. I’m a good tennis player, so of course I’ll have good weeks. The key is stringing them together, not just once in a while but week after week.”
As part of his new approach, Rune recently met with Andre Agassi, the former world No. 1 who won all four grand slams and eight in total. Agassi, 55, is known for his unconventional thinking and deep understanding of the game, despite his complicated relationship with tennis. It’s an interesting move for Rune, who has frequently adjusted his coaching team over his five years on tour. He is working again with Christensen, who coached him as a junior and at various points in his pro career, but has also been guided by Patrick Mouratoglou, who worked with Serena Williams, and Boris Becker, a six-time grand slam winner.Andre Agassi, who won all four Grand Slams as a player, is not officially coaching Holger Rune, but their informal connection has been beneficial. After Rune reached out to Agassi following the French Open, they spent three days working together in Washington DC and have stayed in touch, communicating before or after Rune’s matches.
Rune explained that he initiated the contact, wanting Agassi’s perspective on his game. He found Agassi’s insights clear and helpful, especially during a long dinner where Agassi broke down ways Rune could improve. Rune values Agassi’s deep understanding of tennis and winning mentality, and their ongoing conversations continue to provide useful feedback.
Agassi has expressed confidence in Rune’s potential to win Grand Slams, emphasizing that Rune’s goals are achievable. For Rune, belief is key—he trusts in his ability to succeed with time and effort.
Rune also reflected on his peers Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Alcaraz, born just six days after Rune in May 2003, has already won five Grand Slams, starting with the 2022 US Open. Sinner, two years older at 24, has four, beginning with last year’s Australian Open. Rune noted that Alcaraz has achieved success quickly, while Sinner won his first major at 22—the age Rune is now—showing that consistent hard work and belief in the process pay off.
When comparing the two, Rune finds Sinner’s game more rhythm-based and predictable, while Alcaraz brings more variety and unpredictability. He believes Alcaraz’s peak level might be slightly higher, but both are closely matched overall.
Rune is friendly with both players, especially Alcaraz, with whom he partnered in doubles as a 12-year-old. Their friendship has continued over the years.
A recent win over Alcaraz in the Barcelona final boosted Rune’s confidence, though he acknowledged the need for greater consistency in follow-up tournaments. Throughout his career, his mother, Aneke, has been a constant presence, supporting him both on and off the court.She desperately needs another cigarette, as her desire to win seems just as strong as her son’s. Rune smiles at that thought. “Definitely. It’s been the whole plan since I was six, when I told her, ‘I want to win Grand Slams and be number one in the world.’ She said, ‘Okay, I’ll do everything I can to make that possible.'”
Tennis is still a niche sport in Denmark, and he got little backing from the national federation. “Luckily, my mom has her own water cooler company, so it was a bit easier for her to take time off and travel. But tennis is expensive, and at the lower levels, you had to cover your own hotel and meals. My mom and dad sacrificed their time, money, and their whole lives for me. I feel like I owe them everything.”
How has his mother helped him most? “With my mindset. She’s the one who helped me develop that killer instinct. She’s very demanding, but in a good way—supportive and loving. I think that’s what makes her a great parent: she’s not just nice all the time; she’s honest, too.”
Life on tour can be tough. Rune mentions, almost casually, that he and other players get death threats on social media “all the time. After every match you lose that you were expected to win, it happens.”
The threats come from “people betting on matches, and it’s just not pleasant. Having people threaten you and your family, saying really direct things, is very uncomfortable. It’s one of the worst things about social media, and it can be dangerous in some ways.”
After reaching the final at Indian Wells in March, where he lost to Jack Draper, the rest of 2025 has been inconsistent. But who else has the potential to challenge the Alcaraz-Sinner dominance? “That’s a great question. I haven’t thought much about it, but I’m curious to see how Arthur Fils develops. He has a great forehand, backhand, and physique.” The 21-year-old Frenchman has withdrawn from the US Open with a stress fracture in his back. “He has a lot of tools, and I’m interested to see how he does, but aside from him, I’m not sure right now.”
What about Draper, the world number five who made the US Open semifinals last year? “He has a great game, but I don’t want to say whether he can or can’t—anything is possible. It’s tough, though, because to win a Slam, you might have to beat both Jannik and Carlos, and maybe Novak, who’s still playing well in big tournaments. It’s a challenge.”
Rune’s first US Open match in 2021 was against Djokovic. Even at 18, he didn’t seem intimidated and won the second set. “Maybe I knew I could win,” he says with a grin. “Obviously, I was crazy nervous—my first time in a big stadium, facing maybe the greatest of all time. It was nerve-racking but so exciting. In the first set, I was shaking a little, but after winning the second, I believed right away: ‘Okay, I can beat this guy.’ But my fitness wasn’t great back then. I started cramping, and all the emotion and stress from qualifying didn’t help. Still, it was amazing to experience that level so early in my career.”
He’s had first-round exits in his last two US Open appearances. “I haven’t played well in New York the last few years,” Rune admits, as the focus returns to his Grand Slam ambitions. “But it’s a tournament I’ve always wanted to win, and I still do. I’m ready to do much better.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs based on Holger Runes statement about his determination to beat Alcaraz and Sinner
General Mindset Questions
Q What did Holger Rune mean by Im incredibly determined to find a way
A He meant that he is fully committed to analyzing his opponents games improving his own and developing a specific winning strategy no matter how difficult it is
Q Why is it so hard to beat players like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner
A They are two of the best young players in the world They combine incredible power speed and shotmaking with mental toughness making them very complete and difficult opponents
Q Is this just about physical training
A No While physical fitness is crucial Runes statement highlights that its also a massive mental challenge Its about belief strategy and problemsolving during a match
Strategic Technical Questions
Q What are the biggest strengths of Alcaraz and Sinner that Rune has to overcome
A
Alcaraz Incredible speed explosive power creativity and a complete allcourt game
Sinner Arguably the cleanest and most powerful ballstriker on tour especially off his forehand and backhand with a very aggressive style
Q What kind of way or strategy could Rune use to beat them
A Potential strategies include using variety attacking their weaker shots serving extremely well to avoid their powerful returns and trying to disrupt their rhythm
Q Does Rune have the game to actually challenge them
A Absolutely Rune is also a toptier player known for his aggressive baseline game strong backhand and good movement He has beaten both of them before so he knows he can do it
Mindset Psychological Questions
Q How important is mental strength in these matchups
A Its everything At their level the physical and technical differences are tiny The player who believes they can win handles pressure better and sticks to their plan under stress often comes out on top
