AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 16, 2024

Holger Rune

Press Conference

H. RUNE/Y. Nishioka

6-2, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Congrats, Holger. How tough were the conditions today out an Rod Laver?

HOLGER RUNE: It was very hot. I had to get used to it, especially in the beginning. I was very calm in the first set, managed to find some good tennis. He raised his level a little bit, made it a bit harder.

At the end I think it became a physical battle, and I was feeling good. I was feeling better and better throughout the match. I'm just very happy to get through.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You play next round Arthur Cazaux, who you played a lot when you were a junior. What memories do you have?

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, it's many years ago. We know each other very well. Played each other many times, as I remember.

For sure interesting to play each other here on the tour. It's nice to look back and see we played the same tournaments.

But, yeah, I haven't honestly seen much tennis of him in some time. He won his first match against Laslo Djere. He's playing well, so I have to be prepared.

Q. What weapon do you remember he has?

HOLGER RUNE: I remember he had a good backhand. I think he honestly doesn't have big weakness. As I can remember, he can play forehand, backhand. But I have to study a little bit more until I can say really what's his weapons or weakness, yeah.

Q. You're featuring in the new "Break Point" series on Netflix. There was something called the Netflix curse from some of the players that were featured in the first season fared badly. Is it something that you've heard about or something that will happen to you?

HOLGER RUNE: I think it's stupid, to be honest. No offense. I think it's nothing to do with that. I think Novak could do ten Netflix series and still win 20 Grand Slams or 24. It's really something that it's not about that.

I think Sabalenka did a few already, and she won Australian Open last year. I don't know. Yeah, that's it.