ROLAND GARROS

June 5, 2023

Holger Rune

Press Conference

H. RUNE/F. Cerundolo

7-6, 3-6, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Well done, Holger. How did you turn it around in the end when you were down 4-3, Love-40?

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, it was tough. It was super close match. Very long match. Long rallies. You know, he played well. He played a very good tournament, so he made it difficult for me so I had to dig deep, which I did find solutions.

I came a lot to the net at the end and I think that was the key for me to win.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. A question on that double bounce in the third set. How did that affect that set, which you went on to win, and whether you thought at some point that you should tell the umpire that it was a double bounce?

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, so when I was hitting the ball, I didn't know, I just ran for it. But then obviously when I saw it, after he did call it, I saw it after the next point on the TV, and I saw it was a double bounce. But the point already happened and he called the score.

So I felt sorry. Sorry for him. Yeah, I mean, then I managed to break him. I hold serve. Then after he broke me it was close again.

You know, this is tennis. This is sports. You know, some umpires, they make mistakes. Some for me; some for him. That's life.

Q. Can we say more of a tennis victory, it's a mental victory like you decided you cannot lose?

HOLGER RUNE: I definitely learned something from Australia earlier this year where I lost this kind of match in a match tiebreak at the end. And I told myself in the beginning of the match tiebreak just to, you know, enjoy, enjoy the moment, try to play my tennis. You know, see how it goes. At least go off the court with a smile on my face, because I played a good match.

Because if you think too much about winning and losing, you know, you start to be tight and it hurts. I try to be positive and see the good things.

Q. Looking ahead to the quarterfinals, I know you just played Casper a few weeks ago, but you also played him at this tournament last year, and it was your first big result at a major. I'm curious what you remember from that match and how different of a player you are now 12 months later?

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, I think last year it was a great match also. It was really close second and third set. He played great. He played I think one of his best tournaments last year here. So it's going to be a tough match. Now I played him last tournament in Rome. Managed to get my first win over him.

But, yeah, it's gonna be tough. Now I have to recover. Yeah, let's see.

Q. Is it fair to say that match last year had a lot of incident in it? Very interesting match. How would you describe your relationship with Casper now? I know you beat him recently. Is this a bit of a revenge mission for you?

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, I mean, obviously there was drama last year and I hope we can make less drama this year. We played each other in Rome. It was a good match, I think.

He's a good player. I respect him. There's no problem. We're good. Should be a match without problems, hopefully. Just looking forward for it.

You know, obviously I lost last year. And it's gonna be the same scenario, we play in a quarterfinal, maybe night session again, maybe not. We'll see. Hopefully I can turn it around and make it different this year.

Q. Today you had the tiebreak and the super-tiebreak. Can you explain if you make any adjustment in your game or in your attitude? Do you try to be more aggressive, more calm? Also, is there some difference between a tiebreak and the super-tiebreak?

HOLGER RUNE: I don't think there is too much of a difference. I mean, obviously the super-tiebreak is a bit longer, but I went in with the same mindset and with the mindset that I wanted to win it, not try to make him miss or something like this. I tried to go for it and be super energized, because it is small margins.

You know, it is one or two points here and there that makes a winner of these kind of moments and tiebreaks. So I told myself to be aggressive, trust myself, and play the game that I know is working the best for me. I did it, and I managed to win.

Q. I just wanted to ask you about the fourth set. You left the court for a bit at the end of the third set and then there was that complete drop in the fourth set. What was happening, if you can just walk us through that.

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, it was a tough three sets. So I was feeling a little bit tired and dizzy, but managed to get the electrolytes and all the drinks for me to be able to push in the fifth. You know, it's tough. You know, I played a lot so I'm obviously feeling it.

You know, it's the last push of the clay season so I'm just gonna push for now everything I can to, yeah, to go as far as I can and then I will rest after.

Q. I remember when you beat Stefanos here last year you sat in this room and you said your goal in the sport was to be World No. 1. I just wondered if you feel closer to that goal 12 months on than you would have thought 12 months ago?

HOLGER RUNE: No, I don't feel like a lot closer. I think there is still, you know, a long way. I think to be able to be No. 1 in the world you need to be able to win Grand Slams. I haven't done it yet. I have a chance here to do it, but now just gotta focus on one match at a time.

It's only going to get harder from here. Obviously almost couldn't get harder than today. But for sure, the players on the ranking is getting higher and higher, so I have to play better. I have to do few things I think better in the next match to be able to go out as a winner. And, you know, I mean, I still believe that I can achieve what I want to achieve.

I think there is still a long way. Also, you know, if you look at the points, it's still a ways, so I have to dig deep and do everything I can, and obviously I believe I can make it.

Q. Fair to say that you're a young player so you don't have a lot of background and experience in five sets. I think it was the third match you played five sets today. Sometimes we can hear or say that tennis is a different sport playing in five sets. How would you describe the experience you had in five sets now and what you have learned at every five-set match you played?

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, I know, I think it's the first five-set match I won. I'm happy it's a good one to tick off.

But, yeah, I mean, it's a totally different game than playing normal tournaments because it's much longer. You have to keep the focus and manage your energy differently.

For sure, experience helps. I think experience, you know, kind of helped me through to win today, because I had that tough loss in Australia against Rublev. So I could kind of try and do a few things different today. Actually was thinking of the match against Rublev when we started the match tiebreak. I told myself to act and to think differently, I mean, just to do something different than I did in Australia, because that didn't work.

I did that, and it was the right thing to do.