ROLAND GARROS

May 30, 2025

Holger Rune

Press Conference

H. RUNE/Q. Halys

4-6, 6-2, 5-7, 7-5, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Congrats, Holger. Through to the second week at the French once again. What makes Quentin such a difficult opponent to play against?

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, it was a very difficult match. I think every time I played Quentin, it was a big battle. Last year in Wimbledon, I was two sets to love down. Had to dig deep, find a way.

I think the conditions today were good for him. It was very warm. The ball was flying fast through the air. It was difficult to break him, and at the end I just played much more freely and tried to go for my shots.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Can you tell us what happened with the towel fan next to your box?

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, I was in my towel, and I put my towel like this down in the box, and the guy was yelling aggressive with me. He reach out for me. I thought this was very strange, because I did not do anything against him and he should not interact with a player on the court, it's a bit embarrassing, I think.

I told the supervisor that I would prefer him not being there, because it was a bit uncomfortable. They said they'd check the video, and I guess if it was true what I said they would get him away. I guess they checked, and I didn't see him for the rest of the match.

That was good, because it is not a nice feeling when the crowd is getting aggressive with you when I basically did nothing. I am allowed to hit the towel into my towel box. I didn't do anything against him.

Q. Was he getting aggressive with you for a particular reason, that you knew about? Also, you went like this to the umpire, three, I think?

HOLGER RUNE: Three?

Q. Made a gesture when you were talking to the umpire.

HOLGER RUNE: No, I just said, you know, because it happened at, I don't know, 5-4 when I was serving for the third set, and we played three more games and nothing really happened. I asked to get him removed three times. That's probably why I did it.

Yeah, you know, again, I think maybe he got annoyed that I threw the towel in my towel box. But I can do whatever I want with my towel box as long as I'm keeping respect for everyone, which I believe I did, and the umpire believed so because I didn't get any warning.

I think a guy like that it should not be about him. We're here to perform, we're here to play, and they should try to respect it as much as possible.

I think, you know, I was actually very happy about the rest of the crowd. I think they were very respectful. I think obviously when it's like 5-4, tense moment, they were supporting him a lot, but it's normal. He actually said, Sorry for the crowd, after the match when we shook the hand. I said, Don't worry. I don't think it was anything crazy.

Yeah, just happy to win.

Q. It is already the third time that you lose the first set in this tournament, correct?

HOLGER RUNE: No. Second. Better get your facts better, man (smiling).

Q. Okay, second. Sorry, so second time. Musetti said he also has lost first set today, and he said he cannot afford against you to give a set or advantage to his opponent. I'd like to know, why is difficult sometimes to play the first set? Because in Monte-Carlo, Musetti lost every time first set and then he went to the final. Is it more difficult to concentrate at the beginning, or depends on the wind, on the weather, on the opponent that you don't know? What is the reason?

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, I think that today my first set I was actually serving well, and I was doing one bad service game on the wrong moment. That's what really made the difference.

I don't think I played bad in the first set today. You know, again, you know, all players, we can't really afford, you know, to give games like this away. I almost could have lost today probably because of that, as well.

I think, again, as he said, he can't afford to give me the first set, and the same me, I can't afford to give him the first set like this.

I think looking forward to that match, it's going to be hopefully a great battle. He's in great form. I'm looking forward.

Q. Could you take us through this special shot, one of the best shots of the tournament.

HOLGER RUNE: Of the year (smiling).

Q. Of the year, okay. Of the century, maybe.

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, I was going to say, actually.

Q. How does it work mentally and physically? Your arm, your wrist? How is it possible?

HOLGER RUNE: Very talented (smiling). No, no, I'm joking.

But I think he made a dropshot, and I went up and I hit a little bit lucky shot in the net cord, and he hit quite ridiculous shot crosscourt. I'm fast, so I went there, and I thought, okay, there was an opportunity to play around the net.

Actually, once you're there, it's not the most difficult shot because you can hit it really low. But it was more that I read it and I found a right position to hit it, but it was quite amazing.

I saw 1 million clips of it already, and it looks quite cool. I'm very happy to hit a shot like that.

Q. Do you experience losing the first set differently than you used to? And also, you're getting the assignments on the big court two days in a row now. Wasn't long ago you were drawing a map to your court at the US Open. Must feel good?

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, as I said after the first match, I don't think French Open did anything wrong of putting me there in the first day. I think, again, I think it was more US Open who definitely did something wrong (smiling).

Yeah, I'm very happy and privileged to be able to play, yeah, two matches in a row on Philippe Chatrier. It's a beautiful court. It's definitely, I have said it many times, the best clay court in the world on miles and far.

Yeah, it was beautiful. Very hot day. Not so much wind. Definitely felt the heat, yeah.