Former ATP player Nicolas Mahut doesn't think that Holger Rune is as good as Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, but he still thinks he can win a Grand Slam.
Rune has often been mentioned as part of a triumvirate that also includes Alcaraz and Sinner. These three are expected to dominate tennis in a very meaningful way in the coming years. At the moment, Alcaraz and Sinner are ahead because they've already won Grand Slam trophies.
The Dane hasn't been able to have that kind of success so far, as his career kind of stalled after the first half of last year. He started that year tremendously but ran into problems fairly quickly after that. He's yet to really find his best tennis since then because there is just something missing. He can't seem to find the consistency needed to take a step further.
Still, Rune has tremendous potential and is expected to do well in the coming years, surely to win a major. Former player Nicolas Mahut agrees with that sentiment, but he also thinks that Rune can't really challenge Alcaraz and Sinner for the top spots because they are simply better players, in his opinion
“Rune won’t be satisfied until he wins a Grand Slam. I think he’s completely consumed by it. I wouldn’t be surprised if one day he manages to win one. Obviously he’s not as strong as Sinner and Alcaraz, but there will be more room than during the golden generation with Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray. There will be opportunities and I think he’ll be one of those players who can seize one.”
Rune is certainly utterly consumed by tennis, and he's certainly going to give it his all to reach some of his goals. Notable goals include becoming a Grand Slam champion but also becoming world number one on the ATP Tour.
He's got the potential for it, and he's willing to work. That being said, he's also not as good as Alcaraz and Sinner right now, at least when it comes to achievements, as they have both already reached those goals of winning a major and reaching the No. 1 rank. Nobody knows the future, and the Danish player might become better in the future, but right now, he isn't. He's had some good moments against both, and wins over the likes of Novak Djokovic certainly prove he can beat the best.
It's all about figuring his game out and finding that consistency that he hasn't had in a long time. Right now, he's competing at the Japan Open, where he played some super solid tennis. A good run there is surely going to be confidence-building, and a possible trophy could unleash him. He's proven to be quite streaky in the past, and good results boost him tremendously.
Still, it's a long road ahead for Rune, who has to improve in many areas, the mental part especially, as he's proven to be quite inconsistent when things go south.