Holger Rune makes honest confession on the reasons he hasn’t matched the levels of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz

After reaching the Barcelona Open finals, Holger Rune has returned to the Top 10 ranking.

Holger Rune makes honest confession on the reasons he hasn’t matched the levels of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz

Holger Rune, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner (images via ATP)

Holger Rune recently sat down for an interview with La Vanguardia. The World No. 13 is currently playing in the Barcelona Open. During the interview, the soon-to-be 22-year-old talked about a mistake that he thinks cost him too much in his career, i.e., changing coaches.

He has changed his coaches frequently throughout his career, and he believes that all of it confused him too much. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have had a more steady coaching partnership. Alcaraz has worked with Juan Carlos Ferrero since 2019. Sinner coached under Riccardo Piatti from 2014 to 2022. The Italian then began working with Darren Cahill.

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In the beginning of his career, Rune was accompanied by his childhood coach, Lars Christensen. In October 2022, Rune hired Patrick Mouratoglou as an additional coach. In April 2023, Rune and Mouratoglou announced they would part ways, however, a few weeks later, Rune rehired Mouratoglou to coach him at the Roland Garros. They continued working together until August, when Rune announced their split again. By November, Christensen had also left Rune’s team.

I’ve made mistakes in my career, like changing coaches frequently. Now I have a clear idea of how to focus, where I stand on the pitch, and what my fitness level is. All the changes I’ve made have thrown me off track. I lost my way along the way, and now I’ve managed to find my way back. I know that to be at the top, you have to do the right things and not settle for less.

Holger Rune via La Vanguardia

In October, Rune hired six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker as his coach for the remainder of the 2023 season. In December, Severin Luthi was also confirmed to have joined Rune’s coaching team. However, barely a month later, Rune parted ways with Luthi in January 2024. Shortly afterwards, in February, Becker ceased coaching Rune due to other responsibilities.

In February, Rune announced that he would reunite with former coach Patrick Mouratoglou. However, in July, Rune announced that he and Mouratoglou had decided to part ways for a third time. In August, Rune hired Danish former player Kenneth Carlsen as his new head coach, and in October, Rune rehired Lars Christensen to work alongside Carlsen.

Holger Rune believes Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are extremely consistent

In the interview, Holger Rune also spoke about the present top-ranked tennis players—Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Rune, who has previously expressed that Alcaraz is one of the best on clay, extended his support for the World No. 2 amidst the criticism that he is constantly receiving. 

Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner
Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner (Image via X/The Tennis Letter, Bastien Fachan)

Alcaraz and Sinner aren’t the future, they’re the present. I’ve already fought with them, and I believe I can continue to do so. Sinner is extremely consistent, and so is Carlos, no matter how much people and the press question him for losing a match. He’s two years younger than Sinner and has won four Grand Slams, one more than the Italian. We can all lose a match; we’re human. He deserves to be fully appreciated.

Holger Rune added

Despite a few poor moments, such as the Miami Open, where Alcaraz had an opening round defeat, he has been pretty good otherwise, reaching the quarterfinals of every tournament he played this season apart from the Miami Open. Alcaraz has already clinched two titles this season—the Rotterdam Open and the Monte Carlo Masters. Rune added that everyone loses a match sometimes and that Alcaraz deserves to be fully appreciated. 

Holger Rune has reached the finals of the Barcelona Open

Holger Rune has now reached his second final of the season. He reached his first final of the season at the Indian Wells, where he lost to Jack Draper. 

Jack Draper Holger Rune Indian Wells
Jack Draper and Holger Rune at Indian Wells 2025 finals (via X)

The Dane has defeated Albert Ramos-Vinolas, Sebastian Baez, defending champion Casper Ruud, and Karen Khachanov on his way to the Barcelona Open finals. In the semifinals, Rune put on an incredible display with 21 winners and 13 unforced errors to sweep past Khachanov 6-3, 6-2 and reach his first Barcelona Open final. 

This result will allow Rune to re-enter the Top 10, a year after leaving it. Rune has a career-high ranking of World No. 4. In the finals, he will lock horns with either Carlos Alcaraz. Rune will be aiming for his fifth singles title and his third on clay.