Holger Rune Exposes the Truth Behind Jannik Sinner’s Unstoppable Rise

Jannik Sinner is the two-time defending champion at the Australian Open.

Holger Rune Exposes the Truth Behind Jannik Sinner’s Unstoppable Rise

Holger Rune and Jannik Sinner (via X)

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For years, tennis fans watched the “Big Three” dominate the competition not just with forehands and serves, but also with an aura of invincibility. Now, as the sport finally turns the page, a new hierarchy is emerging. While the headlines are dominated by ranking points and Grand Slam trophies, the real story is the psychological shift that made it all possible.

Holger Rune, currently sidelined and watching from the wings, recently pinpointed exactly what flipped the switch for Jannik Sinner. It wasn’t a new diet, a new racket, or a radical change in coaching. It was something far simpler and much harder to teach. Rune said on Served With Andy Roddick:

Jannik [Sinner], I used to quite like playing him, and I had a feeling that he didn’t like to play him, and now I don’t like to play him. He improved a lot, and he’s an interesting player, because for me, he was doing similar results to me, before he broke through at the Grand Slams, just missing the touch of becoming the best.

According to Rune, the difference between the Sinner of a few years ago and the Grand Slam champion the fans see today is entirely mental. The Italian didn’t just improve; he evolved. He added:

I remember one summer, I was training in Monaco. He was training every day, four hours a day, so disciplined with [Simone] Vagnozzi, short angled cross down the line forehand just repeating it all the time. He really broke through because he just started working better, more seriously. From the outside it looked like this, it’s not like his game changed so much, he’s just better at everything he’s doing. He serves better, he returns better, he hits his forehand better, his backhand better. He just got better at everything. When I played him in Australia last year, I realised how much he always steps in when there’s a chance, never holds back.

Anyone who follows the tour knows that the gap between the top 10 and the top 1 is microscopic in terms of skill. The difference lies in the big moments. Sinner used to falter when the lights got too bright. Now, he thrives there.

Holger Rune watches as the landscape shifts

It has to be a bitter pill to swallow for Holger Rune. While he possesses immense talent, an Achilles injury sustained at the Stockholm Open has forced him off the court during one of the most exciting transition periods in tennis history.

Holger Rune
Holger Rune (Image via X/Holger Rune HQ)

While Rune focuses on his recovery, his contemporaries are rewriting the history books. Jannik Sinner is aiming for a third consecutive Australian Open title.

Carlos Alcaraz is hunting the final piece of his Career Grand Slam puzzle. Being forced to analyze the game rather than play it seems to have given Rune a clearer perspective on what it actually takes to win.

His comments suggest a maturity that will likely serve him well when he eventually returns to the tour. He isn’t just watching the ball; he’s also watching the body language, attitude, and confidence.

High stakes Down Under

For Carlos Alcaraz, Melbourne Park represents the final frontier. He has conquered the clay of Paris, the grass of Wimbledon, and the hard courts of New York. A win here seals his Career Grand Slam, a milestone that cements immortality. But standing in his way is Jannik Sinner, the man who, as Rune pointed out, has forgotten how to doubt himself.

Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz (3)
Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Jannik Sinner HQ)

The ranking points on the line are massive. They determine who gets the easier draw in future majors, who gets the endorsements, and who gets called “World No. 1.” But beyond the math, this tournament is about territory. Sinner owns Melbourne right now. Alcaraz wants to take it.

The fans can’t talk about belief without mentioning the man who practically invented it: Novak Djokovic. However, the narrative has shifted. Djokovic hasn’t held a Slam trophy in over two years. The aura that once paralyzed opponents during the warm-up is fading. The younger generation, led by Sinner and Alcaraz, are starting to become a problem for him.

Also Read: Mats Wilander Explains Why Roger Federer Would Be ‘Perfect Coach’ for Carlos Alcaraz