NATIONAL BANK OPEN

July 29, 2025

Holger Rune

Press Conference

H. RUNE/ G. Mpetshi Perricard

7-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Holger, congrats. How do you feel to get over a tricky opponent just now in two sets?

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, it was a good match. Very tricky first match for me, because he's a big server and not a lot of rhythm in the match. I had to really take care of my own serve, and then just look for the opportunities that I had.

I think first set was very difficult to get any looks on his serve, because he made I think around 75 percent first serve, so it was difficult. It was about finding a way to win at the end of the tiebreak.

Then second set I had a few more looks and was pretty good when it mattered. I think I was serving very well today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. I want to ask you a more general question about tennis, and I'm asking other top players like you the same question. After the final at Wimbledon, Carlos Alcaraz said that when him and Jannik Sinner play each other, they play at a level that he doesn't think anyone else is capable of playing at that level. You're pretty close to them, 2-2 with Alcaraz, including a win in Barcelona, just down by 3-2 against Sinner in the head-to-head. So my question is, like, right now, do you see that much difference between Alcaraz and Sinner and the rest of the other players?

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, I think you forgot something, you know? But yeah, no, no. I think about consistently playing at that level there is a difference, yes. The question about if few, very, very few players can reach their level and have the chance to beat them? I believe so. Which we've also seen in the past.

I think, obviously Carlos had that really good run of many, many matches. I think that they have managed to stay very consistent at that level. That's very difficult. That's big dedication.

That's what I'm working on also, because I definitely believe that I have a good game that can, as I've shown in the past, also challenge them and take matches from them. I think it's very interesting. It's the guys that you want to compete with in the biggest finals.

I feel like, for me, as more often I can do that, that's also going to improve my level. Because there's nothing like playing those matches that can make the same feeling. I think it's all about getting through the first rounds, and getting to play the top-5, top-4 players in the world.

Q. You recently worked with Andre Agassi. We all know how unique his vision and his approach to the game is. Could you please tell us more about that collaboration, and whether it was just a short trial or you are planning a long-time partnership with him.

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, I got in touch with him after French Open. We talked, we had a phone call together, and we were talking about doing some days together. I was really excited to see his view on my game, and see how he saw it, and see how he can help a little bit and make thinks better.

Yeah, we did those three days. Obviously three days is not going to change massively something, but it was nice, it was really nice to see his view on my game. We talked a lot, we had some good sessions on the court as well.

He's not like going to be with me at the tournaments, so he's not like the coach for me, but definitely we keep in touch. Yeah, he's a very, very nice guy, and I really respect how he sees tennis, it's very incredible. Also, obviously, his career was insane.

Q. Today it was announced that you and Amanda Anisimova are going to play in the mixed doubles competition at the US Open. Why was it important for you to take part in this competition, and what kind of went into the process of choosing a partner?

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, I think, first of all, it's a great idea for the US Open to do a mixed doubles event. Because for singles players, and especially top singles players, there's not many who wants to play the mixed doubles, because it's in the second week of the tournament, so it's usually where you need more rest than playing. I think it's a fun idea to do it in the preparation week.

Amanda has been playing extremely well in the past. She's been, you know, obviously making the Wimbledon final. And she was available (smiling), so I reached out and she was happy to play. Actually, I'm not even sure who reached out to who, to be honest. Because, you know, it's the agents and stuff like that. But I'm super happy. She's a great player, very nice person, so that's going to be fun to share the court with her.

Q. I wanted to ask you another question about Andre, being that he's such a legend of the sport. You must have been such a young child when he retired, so I'm curious, do you have any memories of his actual career or accomplishments, and why him specifically, there's so many people out there you could reach out to, why Andre?

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, I don't remember, I don't remember, actually. My time is more like Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, that's what I remember. But definitely I watched a lot of clips of him, and I admire him a lot.

I was thinking, and obviously I have my long-time coach Lars who is doing most of the work. He's doing amazing, I respect him a lot. He's been a main part of building the player I am today. So, you know, that I will not change.

But it was nice to get some different eyes sometimes on my game. I thought Andre, some of the things that he had in his game, like big return, I like to return big. I saw a few similarities. I reached out to him and he was extremely open, so that was another nice thing.

Yeah, he sees my game very high, so I was like really happy to hear his point of view. Obviously he's such a legend of the game, so you really listen to everything he says.

Q. Off the court you have a reputation for making bold moves. And you shared in the press conference in Monte-Carlo that you bought a Porsche 911 after seeing Djokovic drive one, even though you didn't have a driver's license yet. Do you think that reflects how you play on the court, and did you bring that mentality in your match today?

HOLGER RUNE: (Laughing). That's a good question. Yeah, it's a nice car, to be honest, it's very nice. I think, honestly, like a day today, I was very consistent. I played aggressive, but took the right decisions, didn't play too wild. Yeah, you could say I played maybe like a Porsche, but controlled, not full power, that can be risky.

Yeah, I think what was really good today was my serve. I don't think I served like that in, I can't even remember since I have served like that. As I said just after the match, we did a few adjustments with my serve and I was ready to go and do it today, but it's always like you come in the match, you sometimes go back to your old habits. But I kept it out of the way and really felt comfortable with it.

That was a really important thing today, because he has a massive serve, so it was nice also to get a lot of free points. I was focusing a lot on the game plan today, making it difficult for him.

He's a player where you have to accept a lot. He's going to make big serves, you can't do anything, you just have to wait for your chance. And that I did well. I had great focus, yeah.

Q. Going back to the beginning and you playing the guitar, maybe, not quite.

HOLGER RUNE: I don't know. It was a bit tight, wasn't it?

Q. Have you ever met Lars Ulrich of Metallica, and do you know anything about his father?

HOLGER RUNE: No, I haven't met him. I don't know much about it, to be honest, I'm sorry.

Q. You should check him out. He was a great tennis player, and different.

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, I will, I promise you. But I'm in a different generation, you know, more of the pop and stuff. But honestly, I do like some of the old music as well. I think it definitely has its charm. I feel like if you see a lot of the newer music it's like a remix of the old days, so the old days was good.