THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 7, 2023

Holger Rune

Press Conference

H. RUNE/R. Carballes Baena

6-3, 7-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. I watched both of your matches and it seems as if you're holding back a little bit as far as the pace of your game is concerned. Once in a while you really shoot the ball, but other than that you're just keeping the ball in play. Is that intentional or still a little insecure on the grass?

HOLGER RUNE: I don't feel insecure anymore on the grass. I just think sometimes it's not only about hitting hard. It's also about playing the right shots, make the opponent play in the important moments.

You know, I think today, especially against a player like Baena that really likes the pace and likes when the opponent misses, I think it's important to be patient. Often when I was patient today, I won the point. So I did what I needed to do.

Q. What is Denmark looking at right now? Are the Danish people looking at you or Tour de France with Jonas Vingegaard? Have you ever met him? Is there a connection? What do you think?

HOLGER RUNE: I haven't met him, unfortunately. But yeah, I mean, it's great what he did, I mean, last year. It's unbelievable.

Q. Are you watching if you have a chance?

HOLGER RUNE: I don't watch cycling, unfortunately. But, you know, I mean, if it's on television I would maybe watch, but, you know, I prefer to watch tennis.

Q. What do you feel has been the biggest change for you on grass since when you got here and started training at Queen's compared to now?

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, I think I worked a lot with my fitness coach Lapo on the movement stuff.

Then for my mindset it's really been just playing the same game as I play on clay and hard courts. On clay and hard courts I trust my game, I come to the net.

You know, that's also what I have been trying to do here on grass, to play as similar as possible. You know, I don't play like so much spin, so it's still effective on grass if I play the way I play on other surfaces.

Q. What is your first Wozniacki memory?

HOLGER RUNE: That's a good question, actually. I mean, I don't really remember, but probably watching her in Grand Slam. I still remember once when she won Australian Open, my whole family was watching. It was unbelievable, very emotional.

Q. The chant that the fans have been using, "Rune," I don't know if you're aware, but that's the same when the England fans used to chant for Wayne Rooney. Are you aware of that or if that's an honor or not?

HOLGER RUNE: I didn't think of it, but when you say it, it's true. I guess it's not the worst thing. It's great. They're showing really, really good support and it's a nice feeling to be out there first of all with many Danes and British people that are wishing me the best.

It feels good. Hopefully I can bring some more good tennis.

Q. You'd encourage them to keep chanting the "Rune," then?

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, I hope so.

Q. Do you find grass gives you the opportunity to play shots that you possibly don't practice very much? Do you find yourself kind of inventing stuff when you're out there?

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, I think I use the slice more, the dropshot. I use some more like unorthodox shots on grass than I would do maybe on other surface.

Still, again, I try to play the same tennis as I play on other surfaces, and, you know, the main adjustment is just movements.

But I think it's fun. I think, you know, when you make a good dropshot, it's very, very effective, because the bounce is almost nothing. It's a fun surface to play on.

Q. So far you have played on Court No. 3 only. Have you had a chance to practice on any other courts? I guess it's different to play on Centre Court or on Court No. 1.

HOLGER RUNE: I did practice one time on the main side, and it was actually on Court No. 3. I have only played on Court 3 so far (smiling).

Q. How are the house renovations going so far?

HOLGER RUNE: It's going well. It's starting to look very good and I'm excited to see it.

Q. When did you start?

HOLGER RUNE: It started, if I'm right, I think half a year ago, I think, yeah.