Holger Rune explains why he felt like 'Ferrari with no fuel'

| by Zlatko Vodenicharov

After trying to fight his way up for the past two seasons, Holger Rune finally found a winning recipe at the end of the 2022 ATP season.

The 19-years-old Dane won the Paris Masters as he defeated some of the best players in the world along the way, including a final win over the 21-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic. However, his rise that catapulted him into Top 10 of the ATP Rankings wasn't born overnight as he recently explained.

“I am very calm and relaxed as a person – almost a little lazy,” Holger Rune told Relevant Tennis. “So I don’t stress over things related to press or work. Sometimes it is good to be a little lazy because you can’t control everything. I use my energy on court. And I have a really good family around me.”

Previously, the young Dane often struggled with cramps on the tennis court as well as occasional meltdowns. One of those cramping moments came also during his maiden Grand Slam main draw match against Novak Djokovic at the US Open, where Rune collected a lot of praise for fighting despite being almost unable to play.

"I have some big dreams that can really get me motivated" - Rune not afraid to use big words
"I have some big dreams that can really get me motivated" - Rune not afraid to use big words

“It is important to eat well and sleep enough during the season. Because if I have no energy, the engine will burn out,” Rune said. “I have a nutrition plan now so I know I get what I need. We found out I did not get half of the sugar and salt I needed [for matches], that is why I had meltdown and cramps."

“I really did not know [things like these] could make so much difference. My coach says that a Ferrari with no fuel is useless. He is right. So I am much more aware now of what I eat, even though I love pepperoni pizza and ice cream.”

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