By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday January 13, 2022
Stefanos Tsitsipas has had an up close and personal view of Holger Rune in recent years, as the pair both train at the Moratoglou Academy in the South of France. The Greek is mightily impressed by what Rune brings to the table, and predicts big things for the 19-year-old in 2023.
“He has matured pretty fast, I would say, in his game,” Tsitsipas said. “But, of course, that comes with a lot of hard work. I’ve seen him at the academy working hours and hours.”
Tsitsipas says that Rune has a one-track mind when it comes to the sport. He’s driven to succeed and will work himself to the bone in the name of improving his game.
“He’s obsessed with tennis,” Tsitsipas said of the Danish teen, who enters the Australian Open ranked tenth in the world. “You can see how obsessed he is with the sport. He lives, breathes and just thinks tennis all the time, which it’s both good, but it might also have some downsides because you know you have to have other things in your life that excite you and brings joy.”
Tsitsipas says that Rune needs to be careful not to burn himself out.
“Tennis is an important part of your life,” he said, before adding: “But I’m just worried about him burning out. It’s a lot of tennis.”
He also believes that the oft-temperamental Rune could be more disciplined on court.
“Of course, there is a lot of [room for] improvement for him,” he said. “I believe sometimes in how he behaves on court. He’s a great athlete. He is able to beat anyone. He’s a very, you know, disciplined guy when he plays matches. But, you know, he reminds me a little of myself when I was younger at his age. Just getting started. I don’t know much about the ATP Tour. I’m trying to discover along the way, get to know the players better, the tour better.”
Tsitsipas clearly believes that Rune, who reached his first major quarterfinal and won his maiden Masters 1000 title last year, will continue to ascend.
“If I had to make a prediction, I would make a prediction of him that he’s going to have a good 2023,” he said.
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