ROLAND GARROS

May 31, 2024

Holger Rune

Press Conference

H. RUNE/F. Cobolli

6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 3-6, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Congratulations. Can you tell us what happened in your head at 5-0 in the tiebreak in the fifth set? It was a crazy match. What happened in your head at this moment?

HOLGER RUNE: I don't know, actually (smiling). Yeah, not a great start to the match tiebreak, obviously. I just switched my brain off a little bit and just tried to go for my shots.

Then I got great contact on one return at 5-Love. Gained some confidence. And then actually, all of a sudden, it came into my mind a match when Roger played Tennys Sandgren at the Australian Open when he won in five-set match tiebreak as well, and Sandgren had many chances. It was kind of in my mind. I don't know how it appeared, it just did.

Roger is always very relaxed when he's playing. I told myself, okay, let's try to relax. Then I started to hit my shots better, more freedom, got back on track. He hit a crazy passing shot down the line on a crucial moment. Just happy that I kept fighting.

Q. Your stats with tiebreaks are incredible. I don't have the updated one right now, but, I mean, you win most of them and a lot in a row. How do you explain that? It's not good fortune?

HOLGER RUNE: I mean, I have something I tell myself before the tiebreak but I'm not going to say that (smiling).

But it's just I think, you know, obviously the pressure is high in tiebreaks for both players. It's about small margins, one point here and there.

You know, I tend to play my best tennis when I'm in those tiebreaks. So I don't have, like, millions of words to say what exactly is happening, but I'm just really playing my best tennis and I'm just very, very focused.

Q. Just considering the importance of the tournament that you are having, obviously coming back from Love-5 in a tiebreak to 6, is this one of your toughest wins you can remember in terms of importance?

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, it was extremely tough, and especially I think I played the match with too defensive court position which gave him big chance to put me under pressure and run a lot. I didn't make it easy for myself, but again, credit to him. He took his chance. He was hitting the ball full.

I think it was definitely up there with one of the tougher matches I have played, especially it was long and there was, you know, a lot of tense moments in the match. Obviously 4-All, Love-40, as well.

So I cannot say "the" toughest, but definitely a tough one. I think I played, you know, some part of the match very good, especially in the end of the second set after the rain delay, but then, yeah, I let him control too much. But again, he took the advantage when I let him control. I'm just happy that I kept fighting and going to give myself another chance to play better in the next round.