'I Get Extra Energy': Rune On Dealing With Booing Crowds

| by Balasz Virag

Tennis is mostly played in silence which is why not many players can handle a rowdy crowd, however, Holger Rune enjoys it.

The Danish superstar was once famously described by Stefanos Tsitsipas as obsessed with tennis. Stef got a chance to see how Rune approaches tennis at the Mouratoglou Academy on the French Riviera which he uses as well. It's actually become quite the hotspot among tennis players as many use it to prepare for various events.

When it comes to Rune, the obsession can certainly be explained by his passion for the sport. The passion and energy that he brings to the courts has brushed some people the wrong way but in reality, it's actually a big asset. He's not the only player that is burning that hot on a tennis court though and those players generally share some similarities.

For much of their careers, tennis players play in rather silent conditions as the sport has a strong emphasis on that. Most rallies are played in silence but at times, the atmosphere gets quite rowdy which creates a lot of noise.

Plenty of players cave in when that happens but some actually thrive. Rune is one of those as he actually prefers to play with a very engaged crowd. Cheering, booing, doesn't matter.

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I like the atmosphere. I like a lively crowd. You cannot have people on your site always. I get extra energy when the crowd is lively.

Rune on the crowd being engaged

The most recent Roland Garros proved a very lively one with the crowd creating a great atmosphere. There was cheering, Mexican waves, and plenty of booing as well, and it wasn't something that all players enjoyed.

You need to be a certain type of player to enjoy that kind of atmosphere. Tiafoe for example loves it and it was a major factor in him making the US Open run last year. He'd be open to a more lively atmosphere on tennis courts and he's not the only one but he's certainly in the minority.

Tennis carries the perception of being a gentleman's sport and recent comment made by Tsitsipas only hammers down that point. There is a prevalent view of what the sport should look like and anything different is perceived as a threat.

The Greek did apologize for his comments but be assured that the overwhelming majority of players share the same vision of tennis as he does. Rune doesn't and that's okay too.

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