Holger Rune finds himself in Mason and won’t need to bluff confidence at the US Open
Holger Rune has cut a far more confident figure on his way to the last four at the Cincinnati Masters than he has for some time on the ATP Tour.
Rune has admitted that things have clicked for him in Mason and he feels like he is playing well rather than showing fight or working hard to get results.
He consciously set himself to raise his game in what will be his final preparation for the US Open which gets underway in just over a week’s time.
“I said at the beginning of the tournament that I would need to raise my level in order to go deep,” Rune said after beating Gael Monfils.
“You can fool yourself a little bit and say you feel confident for the US Open without these wins, but the confidence these matches are giving me, that I’ve been able to find solutions to play better: this is the most important thing.
“I felt like I’m actually playing well and not just fighting well or competing well, or staying mentally tough. I was actually playing well: serving, forehand, backhand, volleys. Everything was going better together and that’s a really good match.”
Rune believes that he will benefit from having a closer relationship with his new coach Kenneth Carlsen.
“Kenneth knows me very, very well, since I was young. When I was working with Lars [Christensen], he was helping with some of the sessions when I was 12, 13 years old. So, we have a good relation and it seems to working well,” said Rune.
“You can speak about some more private things without everyone else hearing it, which is nice—especially when you’re on the match court! But if Kenneth was Swedish or whatever, it wouldn’t make a big difference: either you like the person or they don’t click with you.”
Holger Rune news
Carlos Alcaraz names young rival as he reveals the biggest trash talker on the ATP Tour
Holger Rune opens up about Boris Becker relationship after Wimbledon tweet controversy
Novak Djokovic told it is ‘a shame’ he does not ’embrace himself and stand by the person he is’ by Wimbledon winner
Rune is trying to become more adaptable as he realises the best players need to cope with changing circumstances.
“Tennis is also about playing in different conditions every week,” Rune added.
“We have different weather, outdoors or indoors, clay or grass, whatever. I think it’s nice how Cincinnati is known for one thing, Montréal is known for another thing. Then, we come to the US Open, which is another thing! The best players in the world are the best at adapting.”
Rune is happy to have the support of his family travelling as part of his support team.
“That’s great to really feel their support; it’s an amazing feeling. In good and bad moments, they are there for me. They’re the ones you can talk to about anything,” the Dane said.
READ MORE: Holger Rune shuts down rumours of a split with Nike in sharp social media response
