Holger Rune has narrowed the gap to Carlos Alcaraz, says Roger Federer’s former coach

There is no longer a “huge gap” between Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune, according to Roger Federer’s former coach Ivan Ljubicic.

Alcaraz was the name on everyone’s lips last year as he won five titles – including the US Open and two ATP Masters titles – and became the youngest world No 1 on the back of his success at Flushing Meadows.

But Rune also made a name for himself as he surged into the top 10 in the world after winning the Paris Masters – defeating the likes of Alcaraz – who retired from their quarter-final – and Novak Djokovic en route to lifting the title.

And the Dane has continued his impressive form this year as he finished runner-up at the Monte Carlo Masters and is also beat Djokovic and Casper Ruud en route to Sunday’s Italian Open where he will face Daniil Medvedev.

Alcaraz, though, has also been excellent so far in 2023 as he has already won four titles – including the Indian Wells Masters and Madrid Open and will replace Djokovic at No 1 in the world when the rankings are updated after the Rome Masters.

Ljubicic, who coached 20-time Grand Slam winner Federer from 2015 until he retired last year, feels the gap between the two 20-year-olds “is getting thinner and thinner”.

“Holger Rune believes a lot in himself, it’s important to have this drive to always want more. Alcaraz is calmer, more mature, aware, and is able to better manage situations on the pitch. I don’t see a huge [gap] between the two. Indeed, it is getting thinner and thinner,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

The Croatian was also asked about Jannik Sinner with many believing the Italian star will form a “new Big Three” with Alcaraz and Rune.

Sinner, though, is yet to win an ATP Masters 1000 title as he finished runner-up at the Miami Open in 2021 and 2023 while he is also yet to get past the quarter-final stage at a Grand Slam.

But Ljubicic warned that the 21-year-old should continue to be patient with his development.

“He is following his path. Compared to Alcaraz it is different, a little longer. It is useless to want to rush things,” he said.

“Rune and Alcaraz make defeats slide more easily, Sinner is very keen on achieving an important result, but he must be patient because he is very young and very strong.”

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