WATCH: Holger Rune Struggles To Hold Back Tears During Runner-Up Speech At Indian Wells
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Holger Rune could not contain his emotions during the ceremony after the 2025 Indian Wells Open final when he mentioned his family.
The Dane suffered a humbling 2-6, 2-6 defeat to Jack Draper in the final. Rune never came close to troubling his fellow young star and got outclassed from start to finish during a match that was shorter than many expected.
Despite the heavy defeat, Rune still made sure to thank those closest to him. The 2022 Paris Masters champion initially kept it together well when showing gratitude to the people who supported him during the tournament.
"For me, it’s been a great two weeks. It never feels nice to not be able to step over the final line. That’s life sometimes. I can only say thank you so much to all the people that have supported me this tournament. It’s been very very special. As a player this means everything. Thank you guys for supporting."
Rune's emotions got the better of him when he then tried to thank his family in Denmark. As seen in the video below, the 21-year-old broke down midway through showing his appreciation to them.
"I also want to say thanks to my family back home. They mean everything to me."
The fans inside the stadium gave Rune rapturous applause when he began to cry. They understood how tough it was for him to speak after falling in such an important final, especially about his family.
The spectators realized that Draper destroying Rune so swiftly did not mean the Dane had not given his best effort. He tried from start to finish but could not find any rhythm against a superb Draper.
Although losing so heavily in the final hurt, Rune was right to call the tournament a great two weeks for him. He has been struggling to consistently find his best tennis in the last 12 months, but made great progress in Indian Wells.
Rune's victory in the semifinal against Daniil Medvedev was particularly impressive. He showed patience in the rallies against Medvedev's superb defense and picked the right moments to be aggressive.
His run to the final in Indian Wells is a reward for the work Rune has been doing. The two-time French Open quarterfinalist has admitted that he did not always show enough commitment to reach the top.
Rune is now doing that. However, the four-time ATP title winner does not believe that a radical alteration in his playing style is needed to take positive steps. His performances at the Indian Wells Open support that belief.
The WTA final in Indian Wells was much closer and more exciting. 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva recovered from a set behind against the world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to win back-to-back WTA 1000 titles.
Andreeva hilariously thanked herself in the ceremony afterward. She also did this after securing the Dubai Championships title a few weeks ago, and it seems like it may become a recurring theme throughout her career.
