Holger Rune hopes he and Carlos Alcaraz emulate the rivalries of Big-3 and Borg-McEnroe for the ‘benefit’ of the sport

Rune aspires to cultivate a robust rivalry with Alcaraz.

Holger Rune hopes he and Carlos Alcaraz emulate the rivalries of Big-3 and Borg-McEnroe for the ‘benefit’ of the sport

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Holger Rune, Carlos Alcaraz , John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg (Image via ATP Tour and The New York Times)

Tennis over the years has seen its own set of highly competitive rivalries. May it be Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe or Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi or the contemporary era featuring the triumvirate of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.

With the retirement of Federer and Nadal grappling with career-altering injuries, the mantle of tennis excellence now rests squarely upon Djokovic’s shoulders. As the lone fully fit member of the once-dominant “Big 3,” the Serb will pass the torch to the emerging superstars of the sport. Among these rising luminaries, two names shine particularly bright: Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune.

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While Alcaraz has notched up an impressive 2 Grand Slam victories, Rune has shown remarkable improvement over the past 8 months, consistently challenging in significant matches. During the ongoing Toronto Masters, Rune was interviewed by the ATP tour, discussing his burgeoning rivalry with Alcaraz. “I do really enjoy it. And I think why rivalries are so important for the sport is because it grows it bigger,” he said. “It gets more interest in the sport and if you only have one great player, of course, it’s nice for that one good player. But it’s not as competitive [as] if you have many,” Rune added.

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Rune believes that rivalries are essential to make tennis more competitive, recognizing that a single dominant player isn’t enough. He points to iconic rivalries like the Big 3 and Borg-McEnroe as examples, showing how these matchups add excitement and intensity to the sport.“I think what Roger, Rafa and Novak did and also Borg, McEnroe, they [brought] tennis to another level and another dimension, and hopefully we can do that also.” Rune aspires to be in a tight rivalry with Alcaraz for many years to come. Can he match the high-voltage Spaniard?

Related: Caroline Wozniacki credits Serena Williams and Elina Svitolina for inspiring her to come out of retirement as she wins her first match back at the Canadian Open

Holger Rune feels the 2022 US Open was the turning point for him

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Holger Rune (Image via CNN)

In the journey of every athlete, there comes a pivotal juncture when the desire to elevate one’s game becomes paramount. Holger Rune experienced this defining moment at the US Open the previous year, where he faced a straight-set defeat at the hands of Cameron Norrie in the third round. This setback prompted Rune to engage in profound self-reflection, particularly given his position outside the top 30 rankings at that time.

Reflecting on his transformation, Rune revealed, “I improved a lot, both mentally, physically. Really took everything much more serious I would say and I was really determined to push every single day, every tournament I played. I feel like after the [2022] US Open swing, I really worked even harder and I got to the level where I wanted to be.”

Driven by a desire for self-improvement, Rune dedicated himself to honing his tennis skills. His journey reached a pinnacle when he secured a remarkable victory over Novak Djokovic in the Paris Masters final. This triumph served as a catalyst, propelling him to climb the ATP rankings consistently. Today, he proudly holds the esteemed No. 6 spot in the world.

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