ROLEX MONTE-CARLO MASTERS

April 15, 2023

Holger Rune

Press Conference

H. RUNE/J. Sinner

1-6, 7-5, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. When you sit at 6-1 at the end of the first, what do you tell to yourself?

HOLGER RUNE: I tell myself to change something, for sure. Jannik, he came out firing and hitting winners almost everywhere in the court. Played much better than I did in the first set.

So I had to find solutions. I did that very well. Started very strong in the beginning of the second set. Managed to get it to 3-0 and then the rain came. We had to stop and come back.

I thought I played well honestly also when we came back. I had 5-2, 30-Love, could have closed it. But he managed to come back. It was super close. But I stayed cool in the important moments.

Q. How would you describe your relationship with the crowd tonight? Because it was sometimes hot. Does it help you sometimes to interact with people to focus?

HOLGER RUNE: My relationship with the crowd was awesome, if you ask me. I think it was great. You had so much energy on the court, which is fun. I guess if you ask the crowd, I think they would prefer that than two guys looking down and doing nothing.

I thought it was a great match. I would probably say not level-wise but one of the best like tennis matches that I have played in my life. You know, it was very, very close. I had chances. There were some great points, great rallies.

You know, every time you play Jannik, it's tough matches and you've got to play your best.

Q. What do you expect tomorrow against Andrey?

HOLGER RUNE: I expect for myself to push full. It's the last push, it's the last match of the tournament.

Obviously he had three sets today as well, so he must be feeling the legs a little bit, I hope. I don't know. You know, it's going to be great.

You know, we played each other twice. It's 1-All head to head, so it's going to be interesting, for sure.

Q. Last time was in Melbourne. It was a very incredible match, end of match. What do you get from there to help you for tomorrow?

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, it was obviously so lucky (smiling), you know, at the end, if you have to be honest. I mean, in a way, luck is always deserved. He deserved to win. He went for it. Congrats to him.

I've just got to stay in the moment, go for it tomorrow, because again, against the best players in the world, and Andrey has been showing that for many years now, he's been top 5, 6 for many years, so I've got to play my best. I've got to take it, because he's not going to give it to me.