Holger Rune Reveals How US Open Opponent Made Their Match 'A Little Bit Personal'
NewsTuesday, 26 August 2025 at 19:30
Holger Rune progressed to the 2025 US Open second round on Monday with a solid win. The Dane's comments about his opponent afterward were more startling than that result.
Expectations for Rune heading into this year's US Open were not overly high after a mixed season. The most significant high was winning the 2025 Barcelona Open, overcoming a physically hampered Carlos Alcaraz in the final.
For whatever reason, the US Open has been Rune's weakest Grand Slam so far in his career. He fell in the 2023 and 2024 opening rounds after getting as far as the third round at the 2022 iteration.
Rune faced Botic van de Zandschulp on Monday, hoping to avoid a fourth consecutive loss at Flushing Meadows. The Dutchman's history of causing upsets meant the match had the potential to be challenging.
Van de Zandschulp's second-round victory at the 2024 US Open against Carlos Alcaraz was one of the biggest Grand Slam upsets ever. Although the Spaniard did not play near his best, van de Zandschulp produced superb tennis from start to finish.
The 29-year-old also beat Rafael Nadal in what turned out to be his final professional match at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. Nadal's level was nowhere near his prime, but van de Zandschulp held his nerve well in front of a fiercely partisan crowd.
Van de Zandschulp is known for his calm and relaxed demeanor on and off the court, meaning many fans would assume he is among the least likely to engage in gamesmanship. However, Rune claimed the opposite after their match.
The 2022 Paris Masters winner performed better in the big moments to triumph 6-3, 7-6, 7-6 against van de Zandschulp. Surprisingly, in an interview with US Open Radio, Rune said his opponent tried to wind him up during the contest.
"He made it a little bit personal. He made a fist pump right in my face, so I know how he behaves when he’s a little bit stressed, so it’s okay. I’m not afraid of that, I just turned it into fuel."
There was no visible anger or reaction from Rune during the match. He noticed what he felt was a fist pump aimed at him by van de Zandschulp, and decided to focus on winning the match before commenting about it afterward.
However, some defended the Dutchman and felt Rune was being unfair. The Double Fault Podcast replied to Gill Gross, who conducted the interview, on X with a comment saying they were courtside and did not notice what Rune claimed occurred.
"I was courtside for that match and I didn’t get this impression at all from Botic. Really hope Holger didn’t make too big of a deal of this cuz that’s crazy thinking."
Van de Zandschulp does seem like one of the least likely ATP players to engage in behavior designed to frustrate opponents. He may have been shocked by Rune's comments when they circulated online.
Rune will play Jan-Lennard Struff in the second round on Wednesday. The German relies heavily on his serve and needs to be excellent with that shot to have a chance of winning.
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