Holger Rune embroiled in Monte Carlo Masters’ latest controversy: ‘I cannot get a warning for this’
Holger Rune became the latest player to become embroiled in an on-court controversy at the Monte Carlo Masters as he contested an unsportsmanlike conduct warning given against him.
After back-to-back incidents involving Daniil Medvedev earlier in the week, world No 7 Rune found himself dragged into controversy towards the end of the second set of his match against Jannik Sinner.
Trailing by a set in his quarter-final encounter, Rune was handed a time violation serving at 5-5, 0-30 down against the world No 2 – who he beat at this tournament 12 months ago.
The Dane did not contest that warning, handed out by umpire Damien Dumusois, but then responded to jeers from the crowd by making a gesture – seemingly telling them to be quiet – directly at the spectators.
Read More: Holger Rune set for big rankings drop after Monte Carlo loss as Jannik Sinner stays strong
This only led to further jeering from the spectators and Dumosois then handed the former world No 4 a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct – a charge he contested heavily.
“Call the supervisor, I cannot get one [a warning] for this – I did not say the bad words to them,” said Rune to Dumosois.
When the French umpire told Rune that it had not been acceptable for him to make the gesture towards the crowd, the Dane then questioned whether it was fine for him to tell the crowd to be quiet.
“Saying ‘be quiet’, is fine, but this way is a lack of respect,” replied Dumosois.
Holger Rune is NOT HAPPY as he is given a warning for taking too long to serve and unsporting behaviour pic.twitter.com/DFoM1N8aUC
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) April 12, 2024
Rune continued his protestations with the umpire before sitting down on his chair, not moving until the tournament supervisor came onto to Monte Carlo’s Centre Court.
The world No 7 was unable to overturn his unsportsmanlike conduct warning – which will likely see him receive a fine after the tournament – but did appear buoyed after the incident.
After falling 0-40 down, Rune saved three break points to hold for 6-5 in the second set and then saved two match points in the second-set tiebreak to force a decider.
However, with the crowd in near unanimous support for his opponent, he was unable to turn the match around completely and eventually fell to a 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-3 defeat, being booed off the court by some at the end of the contest.
He will next be in action at the Bavarian Open in Munich next week, where he is the defending champion.
