Holger Rune unfazed by ATP Finals race as he sets sights on reclaiming Paris Masters
Holger Rune is still in the with a shout at the Nitto ATP Finals thanks to early losses of Casper Ruud and Andrey Rublev in Paris Masters.
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Holger Rune (Image via X)
13th seed Holger Rune is still in contention to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals. The Danish player is currently competing at the Paris Masters, where he made his breakthrough two years ago with a title win over Novak Djokovic.
To qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, Rune would need to deliver a similar performance this week in Paris. However, he isn’t focused on ATP Finals qualification, instead aiming to build confidence at his favorite event.
Honestly, I don’t even think about it. I’m just here in Paris. This is one of my favorite tournaments. My goal, as I said before the tournament, is to do well here. To be honest, I don’t care about anything else. Paris means everything to me. I’m here to fight until the end.
Holger Rune in the post-match interview at Paris Masters
Rune currently sits 13th in the ATP Turin race with 2,725 points, but he is still nearly 1,000 points behind Andrey Rublev (3,720), who holds the final qualifying position.
Rune’s chances for the Nitto ATP Finals have been boosted by the early exits of Rublev and Casper Ruud at the Paris Masters. Additionally, the potential withdrawal of Djokovic (6th in the ATP Turin race) may further open the door for him in the qualifying race.
Holger Rune advances to the Round of 16 in the Paris Masters
Holger Rune is showing glimpses of the form that won him the Rolex Paris Masters title in 2022. Seeded No. 13, Rune smoothly defeated Alexander Bublik 6-4, 6-2 in just 70 minutes. The 21-year-old made his breakthrough in Paris two years ago, stunning five Top 10 players, including then-No. 1 Novak Djokovic, to claim the title. Since then, Rune has faced struggles with injuries and performance but is looking poised for another strong run in Paris this year.
Now 21, Rune stands alongside players like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz as the sport’s next generation. While he reached two Grand Slam quarterfinals in 2023, he hasn’t matched those results in 2024. Falling out of the Top 10 in April, Rune parted ways with coaches Boris Becker and Patrick Mouratoglou. He then reunited with his former coach, Lars Christensen, and reached the Cincinnati Open semifinals before the US Open—his best Masters 1000 result this season.
Rune’s form has improved this fall, reaching the semifinals in Tokyo and Basel. In Paris, he landed in a favorable draw after top seed Jannik Sinner withdrew. The Dane began with a straight-sets win over Matteo Arnaldi, setting up a second-round match with the unpredictable Bublik, who had ended a recent losing streak by defeating Fabio Fognini.
The match opened with both players holding serve with ease. Rune earned a crucial break in the ninth game after a tense series of deuces and rode that momentum to take the first set. He then secured a 2-0 lead in the second set. Although Bublik fought back briefly, Rune quickly regained control, broke again, and served out the match on his first match point. He now advances to face either Arthur Cazaux or Ben Shelton in the third round.
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Fahad Hamid
(645 Articles Published)