Rune Keeps Eyes on Paris Prize after Disappointment in Monte-Carlo Final

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday April 16, 2023

Holger Rune didn’t find a way past Andrey Rublev on Sunday at Monte-Carlo, but by reaching the final the rising Dane continues his climb up the ATP rankings ladder. Rune will leapfrog Jannik Sinner and make a career-high at No.7 in Monday’s ATP rankings, and the 19-year-old is setting his sights on bigger things to come.

He had a chance for a double-break lead with Rublev serving at 1-4, 30-40 in the final set of Sunday’s final, but couldn’t hang on as fatigue set in and the Russian surged to the finish line, winning six of the final seven games.

“I obviously feel like it was a long match yesterday,” Rune said. “We finished late. You know, I didn’t have much time to recover. It is what it is. I gave it all. Didn’t have any more in me. I did what I could, and I was very close.”

It’s not an ideal experience, to lose in heartbreaking fashion, but it is one that will ultimately help Rune develop. He didn’t have much time to recover after his electric semifinal win over Jannik Sinner on Saturday, which ended late on Saturday evening, and in time he will become better at managing such difficult circumstances.

1 – Holger Rune is the first player to appear in the final of the Monte Carlo Masters before turning 20 since Rafael Nadal did so in 2006. Strides. #RolexMonteCarloMasters | @atptour @ATPMediaInfo pic.twitter.com/onGFqbj6UP

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) April 15, 2023

Experience counts, and Rune got some valuable experience this week.

Now he can set his sights on using it as the scene shifts to other European venues. Rune will take his place as the No.1 seed in Munich this week, where he is defending champion, then it is on to Madrid and Rome. Finally, the main attraction, Roland-Garros, kicks off on May 28.

“I was definitely in control in the third set and also I would say mostly in the first set as well,” he said. “But again, didn’t manage to close it out.

“Disappointing, but again, it’s part of tennis. Just got to see what I did wrong, what I can do better, and move on – the most important tournament of the clay season is the French Open, so if I can prepare myself as best as possible for that one, that’s what matters.”