Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal overlooked as Holger Rune builds perfect tennis player

Holger Rune has had another go at building his perfect player, but the world No 14 has gone for a real mixed bag instead of favouring the traditional big-name players in tennis.

Back in June 2023, the Dane was asked in an ATP Tour video to come up with his perfect player as he had to make selections based on forehand, backhand, serve, return, slice, volley, general touch, movement and a few other features.

Roger Federer was picked five times, Novak Djokovic four times and Nick Kyrgios once, but Djokovic didn’t make the cut this time while Federer was selected in a different category.

There were a lot more categories in his first attempt and Rune went with Federer for his forehand drop shot, volley, touch and celebrations.

Djokovic was selected for his backhand, return, flexibility and backhand drop shot while Nadal got the nod in the mental toughness and competitiveness fields.

Fernando Gonzalez made the list for his forehand, Carlos Alcaraz was selected for his movement and Daniil Medvedev’s stamina received the thumbs-up from the rising star.

Those first two also make the cut in the latest edition, but once again in different fields.

Here are Rune’s latest picks for building your perfect tennis player:

Best Forehand:
Roger Federer

Last time Gonzalez was the winner and it was hard to argue as he stated of Chilean: “It was so big and I feel that on every surface he manages to hit it unbelievably and I like the swing, it’s pretty big”.

Best Backhand:
Andy Murray
After Djokovic got the nod in 2023, Rune went with Murray this time around and that part of the three-time Grand Slam winner’s game is often overlooked.

Best Power
Fernando Gonzalez

This was not part of the previous list, but again no can argue with Gonzalez’s power.

ATP News

Djokovic, Nadal, or Federer? Stan Wawrinka names the ‘perfect tennis player’

Tim Henman predicts where Novak Djokovic is most likely to win his 25th Grand Slam

Best Serve
Nick Kyrgios

The only man to be selected in the same category twice and like the Gonzalez pick, it is difficult to go against Australian when it comes to serve.

“I think he is the best server on tour because he can hit every spot he is going for and has this huge technique, so it is very nice,” he said back in 2023.

The Kyrgios serve remains one of the best on the ATP Tour, pity he doesn’t play a lot these days.

Best Brain:
Carlos Alcaraz

Again, this category didn’t feature last time and some will say that Alcaraz still has work to do when it comes to his decision-making on court, but it is, after all, Rune’s perfect player.