Will Holger Rune be the man to match pal Carlos Alcaraz?

| by Tom Grant

Carlos Alcaraz has spent 2022 living up to all the hype that surrounded him on tour and in the tennis news columns around the world.

He has taken the men's tour by storm, rising from World No. 32 at the start of the year to claim his maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open and the number one berth with it.

The 19-year-old has since had a quiet few months, losing two of the three subsequent matches he has played since that win in New York, but has moved himself into prime position to stake a claim to be the next dominant player in men's tennis.

However, with every great champion you need a great rival, and many looked at Jannik Sinner - particularly after their five-set epic quarter-final at Flushing Meadows - to be the man to fill that role.

But Sinner's court time has been hampered since the final Grand Slam of the year and the last time he was on court he was forced to retire against a man who may yet become the foil to the Alcaraz machine.

Step forward Holger Rune, now proving he is indeed the real deal.

Like Alcaraz, much talk has followed Rune throughout his junior days and through his early professional years.

And on Sunday, the great Dane upset top seed Stefanos Tsitsipas to win his second tour-title at the Stockholm Open.

Earlier this season, Rune clinched his maiden tour-level trophy in Munich, where he defeated then-World No. 3 Alexander Zverev, proving he can mix it with the best the men's tour has to offer.

His win in Sweden means he has become just the second teenager to win multiple tour-level titles this year, joining Carlos Alcaraz.

The new firm potential of Alcaraz versus Rune has early echoes of outgoing greats Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, known for their friendship off-court as much as they were known for their rivalry on one.

The pair are pals, as footage of them playing doubles in 2017 shows.

The two tennis prodigies were playing in Les Petits As in Paris, a Junior World Championship of tennis for players under 14-years-old.

It bodes for a promising future for fans of the sport, and if they serve up anything close to what Rafa and Roger did, then we have an enthralling few years ahead.

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Rune drops racquet but wins point and the match against de Minaur in Stockholm
Rune drops racquet but wins point and the match against de Minaur in Stockholm

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