CHINA OPEN

October 1, 2023

Holger Rune

Press Conference

G. DIMITROV/H. Rune

6-3, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the press conference for Rune. So sorry for your loss. Can you talk to us about this match.

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, started not very well today, unfortunately. Managed to start playing some decent tennis from Love-4 in the first set. Then, yeah, I never really found my level. Probably playing around 20% of what I can.

But, yeah, that's how it is sometimes. I haven't played many matches in the past also. Trying to get the rhythm back. And, yeah, congrats to Grigor.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. You managed to win your first match in Beijing. I know you received a lot of love from the fans. Can you share some nice memories in Beijing for us?

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, it's been a very good week for me. I mean, not so much result-wise, but I really enjoyed my time here.

Amazing, amazing fans here. They really show the love for the tennis, the support. It's been great. I really feel welcomed here from the first day.

Yeah, I'm really happy about the place. I mean, it's unbelievable with all the courts here. The hotel is great. The organization is amazing. Definitely a tournament that is on my list to come back to.

Q. Next we know you will go to Shanghai. What are your expectations?

HOLGER RUNE: I mean, always have hopes to go all the way. I mean, I think all the players have that. That's why they come.

I got to take one match at a time. In my mind, try to see more on my game rather than the result because my game is not very good right now. I need to get back and then start improving. I got to focus more on that, then the results will be better and better.

Now it's like I played very solid in the first match here, but then less solid today. Like, you want to see the improvement from every match. I guess that's going to be my focus next week.

Q. I know you have some health issues before you come to Beijing. Did that play a part in your loss today? Can you tell us a little bit about that?

HOLGER RUNE: No, it's not because of that I lost. I felt sore after the first match because it's been a while since I played more than one match or two matches. Yeah, it's a little tough on the body. It sounds ridiculous because I only played one match before that, had one day off in between. But that's how it is.

My body's feeling healthy. Just soreness. That's a good feeling of your body, yeah.