“It’s hard to be a total a**hole!” John McEnroe commends Holger Rune’s guts to go against the wind amid recent backlash
Former tennis star John McEnroe praises Holger Rune's courageous approach in the face of criticism, after the young player's recent controversial actions on court.
John McEnroe and Holger Rune (Images via NPR, Tennis Major)
Former tennis champion John McEnroe has commended young Danish player Holger Rune for his bravery in standing up against the tide of recent criticism. Despite developing a reputation for his behavior, McEnroe sees Rune as a real threat in this year’s French Open.
“I’ve said this before, I’ll say it again, it’s hard to be a total a****** and be on the tennis tour, okay? It’s possible to do it, but you end up living a very lonely existence,” McEnroe said. He also added, “He likes to ham it up, he likes to engage the crowd, but he does it in a way that kind of irritates his opponents at times. Certainly, he irritates the crowd.“
“So what’s happening is, he’s developing a reputation. I think Rune will come around. I do think he’s a threat to do some serious damage at the French [Open this year]. The guy is a tremendous talent, brings a ton of energy to the court,” concluded the three-time Wimbledon champion on the Holding Court podcast with Patrick McEnroe.
Rune, who is just 20 years old, faced the wrath of the crowd during a recent match in the Spanish capital. A controversial line call and the subsequent events that followed caused an uproar among fans. However, McEnroe praised Rune for his guts to go against the wind and remain focused on his game, despite the backlash.
McEnroe is not alone in his admiration for the young player, who is quickly gaining a reputation for his skill and tenacity on the court. Rune’s recent performances have been impressive, and he is seen as a real contender for success at the French Open this year.
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Alejandro Davidovich Fokina claims hard-fought victory over Holger Rune in Madrid showdown
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina emerged victorious in a thrilling and intense encounter against the sixth-seeded Holger Rune at the Mutua Madrid Open on Sunday morning. The home crowd on Manolo Santana Stadium was ecstatic as Fokina emerged victorious in a 7-6 (1), 5-7, 7-6 (5) battle that lasted three hours and four minutes.
Fokina, who had come close to victory in the second set, was just five points away from clinching the match, but Rune managed to recover each time and forced a third set. Fokina served for the match in the third set, but once again, Rune showed incredible resilience and fought back to force a deciding tiebreak.
In the end, it was Fokina who held his nerve and emerged as the winner, claiming his first Top 10 win of 2023. The Spaniard’s performance was cheered on by the home crowd, who were delighted to see him progress to the fourth round of the Madrid Open.
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Ujan Chakraborty
(1240 Articles Published)