ROLAND GARROS

June 3, 2023

Holger Rune

Press Conference

H. RUNE/G.A. Olivieri

6-4, 6-1, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Congrats, Holger. Now through to the fourth round. Do you think it was advantage to get a walkover in the second round or you would have preferred to play that match?

HOLGER RUNE: Both yes and no. I think if you play the second match you keep the rhythm. You can, you know, get into the matches and try to work on your game every day.

But at the other hand I see it as a good thing because I got to rest my body fully and got a few more practice day to adjust to things I wanted to do better.

Today I think I played better than the first match, so I'm happy.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. I just wanted to ask you what you did on the day of your second-round match. How long did you practice? How exactly did that day go?

HOLGER RUNE: Yes, so first I had the normal day off after my first round, which I took easy because I thought I was going to play.

Then actually I was asleep. Then my phone called, and then, yeah, they said he was going to withdraw. So I put two-and-a-half hours' practice that day and tried to play like points and a normal set to imitate a real day of match. So I got also a little bit tired that day to kind of feel the same. Then the last day before the match, yesterday, I took it easy.

Today I feel good. I feel like I was ready to go, prepared, was still in the match mode. Yeah, I feel good.

Q. You had this experience at the US Open, as well, having to not play a match in the middle. Curious if you learned anything from that that might have helped this time around?

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, I mean, of course I was thinking back at that moment. You know, it's not always ideal, but again, it is what it is. You know, there is nothing to do about it.

So just gotta take it as it is and, you know, try, as I said, try to imitate a real match day so I get the same feeling as I normally would. Then just go out there today and, you know, be happy that I have extra energy, because I had.

So in that case, it was great. Now back to normal times and ready to go again.

Q. After your first game you said that you slept a little bit after the game and before the press conference. Just wanted to know if you used to do some naps during your tournaments, how long are they, and how do you deal with it?

HOLGER RUNE: I didn't understand. Sorry.

Q. Do you sleep a lot and do some naps during your tournaments?

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, I sleep a lot. I love to sleep. I probably sleep around, I don't know, 9 to 13 hours if I can.

It's a lot (laughter). I really like it. I think it's the best recovery that you can have. You know, I actually think the muscle relax, everything relaxes when you sleep, so I try to, you know, every time I can sleep.

Then when I'm awake I'm fully awake, yeah. (Laughter.)

Q. I'm not going to ask you about the match. It's a question I have asked before. It's about South African and African players that do not have the resources to break through to this level. I'm given to understand that you played juniors in South Africa. So I just want to know how the matchups were against South African and African players? Do you think there is the talent for them to play at this level?

HOLGER RUNE: Without a doubt, yes. I think, because I played also in Nairobi and Kenya when I was junior and in South Africa. I remember, I think I lost to a South African player at that time, and obviously there is not the best facilities, but again, you know, we have Lloyd Harris, you know, who is playing really well, coming back from injury. So I definitely think, you know, if maybe they could have a better chance, there would for sure be more African players in the world ranking.

But yeah, again, I played also a guy, I remember in the semifinal of, I think ITF Grade 4 in Nairobi, and he was from, I think, Kenya. He played really well, it was a super tough match, and we were the same age I think.

I think if they obviously have a better chance, I think we will see much more.

Q. Holger, we know you are a very confident player, and you have lots of self-belief. Do you think you can win Roland Garros this year, or do you know you can win Roland Garros this year?

HOLGER RUNE: That's a big question, man. Well, the time will show. We'll see. Obviously I believe I can. But again, I have to play my best tennis, be in my best state of mind to do it, and I have to take one match at a time.

Luckily I haven't used too much unnecessary energy during the tournament so far. I still think I can play better, which is good. I'm in the fourth round and I can play better, so it's a good thing. But obviously the matches are going to get harder and harder from now so I have to step up also.

Yeah, and we'll see. I mean, I believe, but also you cannot only believe; you have to make it happen. Yeah, time will show.

Q. Back in April you and Patrick Mouratoglou announced you weren't going to work together full time anymore, but we still see him at lots of your matches. Can you talk a bit about what's different now from how you worked together before and what he brings to your kind of camp.

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, he's with me here. You know, he's a great coach. I mean, especially in matches, he's good to give advice. Before matches to kind of get my mindset in the right place of how I want to, you know, go into this match, work on a few things.

Yeah, I mean, we have a good relationship. I'm happy that he's with me.

Q. Just to go back to how much you sleep, I'm curious how often you dream about tennis, and if you dream in Danish or English or if it goes back and forth?

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, I mean, well, I think we all dream, no? I don't know (smiling). But sometimes about tennis, sometimes not. Can be random things. I don't know.

Sometimes I have very good dreams that, you know, I stand there with the trophy and stuff, but then when you wake up, you're, like, Oh, shit, I'm just in bed (smiling).

But then when you actually make the dreams to a reality it feels even better, because then you remember, oh, that's actually what I dreamt about. You know, in this case can be fun. But then when you wake up from a good dream, it's not as fun. Yeah.