Current ATP player Michael Mmoh talked about one of the up-and-coming stars, Holger Rune, and what his future might look like.
Rune has often been floated as part of this new Next-Gen Big Three on the ATP Tour, which also includes Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, but he hasn't lived up to that in recent months.
He's certainly there in terms of age because he has not emerged among them yet. Ben Shelton comes closest, but the American has been even more inconsistent than Rune.
The Dane has won an ATP Masters 1000 trophy in his career. He's had some deep runs at Grand Slams in the past, but he hasn't shown the same level as Sinner and Alcaraz, especially recently.
Those two have already won Grand Slams; in the case of Alcaraz, it's even multiple, and that's something that Rune hasn't done yet. It is the next step for him, and until he does it, people will be reluctant to put him on the same level as those two.
Current player Michael Mmoh didn't do it in a recent appearance on the Tennis Channel, where he discussed Rune from the point-of-view of somebody who played him twice in 2024.
Rune and Mmoh have played two times so far, and the Danish player has won two times. Since they played this year, which has been a weaker year for the Dane results-wise, Mmoh has a clear idea of what it feels like to stand on the opposite side of the court to Rune.
While the American conceded that he's not been playing that well this year, he stated that Rune is somebody who will win a Grand Slam in the future.
"To be honest. He's always been my pick, and he's an eventual grand slam champion. He just has that it factor. He's struggling with a little bit of form right now, a lot of coaching changes."
"I think he needs a little bit of continuity moving forward but he has a lot of game. I wouldn't put him next to Sinner and Alcaraz but he's a talented young kid who has a lot of game."
Rune's career so far isn't that strange compared to some other young players. He rapidly rose in his first few years, which often happens to the young players, who many haven't faced yet.
However, once they figure out how they play, it becomes more challenging to sustain that same level, and he's battling some of that this year. Mmoh made a really good point about the inconsistency in his team because he's had a lot of personnel turnover in recent months, and that can't help.
Many former and current players talk about tennis' routine and how having one coach really benefits a player. If there is constant chaos, some claim that an athlete can't have an atmosphere where they can solely focus on tennis, and it will impact their play.
The young Dane is still a super-talented player so that part of the equation will never be a problem.
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