Holger Rune unabashed: confrontation between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz

He was considered one of the potential new Big Three, along with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. But, while the Italian and the Spaniard took the final step, rising to the top of the ATP rankings and dominating Grand Slam tournaments, Holger Rune slipped back, staying on the sidelines and never fulfilling his potential.

The Danish tennis player, who slipped out of the world Top 10, has hired André Agassi as his manager with the goal of returning to the top and challenging the Blue and the Murcia champion, whom he has already beaten twice apiece in head-to-head confrontations. “My problem is not beating those guys, because I&#8217ve already done that. My problem is to be consistent in’going forward in every tournament to get a chance to face them more often, because I feel that”s where I raise my level,&#8221 are Rune&#8221s words in an interview with the Guardian, just days before the start of the U.S. Open.

“It is very clear that when Carlos and Jannik face each other, their level rises. They push each other like crazy and that is a very exciting element of the sport. So having a good record against them, and also against Novak Djokovic when he was at the top, makes me realize that I can do it. I just have to be more consistent. That’s the hardest part because basically right now only Carlos and Jannik are consistent on the tour”.

Still on Sinner: “When Jannik won his first Slam he was my age, 22. He’s always been an amazing player. It wasn&#8217t that he did something crazy all of a sudden. He worked very steadily, very hard”.

“Between the two of them I always felt more comfortable with Jannik because he gives more rhythm, he plays the same shots more often. With Carlos there&#8217s so much variety. You give him an opportunity and he either makes a short ball or hits you down the line or does something different. He is unpredictable, which makes everything more difficult. But at the same time, Jannik’s consistency allows him to beat Alcaraz, who sometimes makes too many mistakes. I think they are really strong equals”.