BNP PARIBAS OPEN

March 16, 2025

Holger Rune

Press Conference

J. DRAPER/H. Rune

6-2, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Not the best result you wanted, Holger, but still very good two weeks for you here at Indian Wells, lots of positive results. What's your biggest takeaway from it?

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah, a lot to take out, a lot to learn from, for sure. Yeah, it's been good two weeks. I have been playing good matches, very good tactical matches.

You know, I think today was very clear that I didn't play well enough. Yeah, that's it. Some things to work on next days before Miami. That's always good feeling to feel like you can do stuff better and still I reached the finals.

So still a good week. Obviously disappointed today, but yeah, that's how it is.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Holger, what do you think it was today? Just one of those days where you just weren't feeling the ball and where Jack was just hitting his serve out of this world? Just one of those things?

HOLGER RUNE: No, I actually just spoke to my coach after the match, and we got things evaluated quite quickly, which is always a nice feeling.

We spoke about obviously Jack played an amazing tournament, and he deserved to win today. You know, he was serving amazing, for sure. But I think I could have done my part better. Like the opportunities I had to play aggressive just weren't good enough.

I think it's a matter of fact that I haven't committed -- I mean, I have been playing well in this tournament, been playing tactically very wisely, but I haven't played, like, fully committed to my aggressive game still.

I think that's what was the reason why I lost today, because when I had to take -- like, how can I explain the best way? Jack was playing extremely well, but the few chances I had to make it difficult for him, I didn't quite take them, because I wasn't really trusting every shot of my game today.

Q. Do you have the feeling that you have turned the page, that this is really the beginning of what could be a very good period for you? Especially because after Miami, it's going on clay, and it's a good surface for you. Do you have the feeling that this is the start of something good?

HOLGER RUNE: Yeah. I mean, I really had that feeling, I mean, even last year playing Paris, and I think I was a bit unfortunate in some tournaments before Indian Wells, but I think, you know, my coach and I and my whole team, we're building really well.

I think I'm improving as a player, and also mentally, I'm improving a lot. Definitely I feel a lot of motivation, actually. Again, after a match like today, I feel like I want to finish the job in Miami all the way.

Then of course coming into the clay court season, there is some of my favorite tournaments actually to play like Monaco, Rome, and French Open. It's definitely some tournaments I have great memories in, and I know I can play well there.

So I like how the things are now, and there are specific things on the tennis that I can do better to be a player that can, yeah, win, give myself the chance to win every tournament I step into.

Q. Just in terms of the way you played yesterday against Daniil, that very tactical game, in terms of that balancing out with your aggressiveness and completely different player today, was that not much of an option against a player like Jack, the way he plays?

HOLGER RUNE: For sure against Medvedev was completely different match, but I think what I thought straightaway after the match today was do you remember how I played in Paris 2022? I told myself that. And I answered to myself, yes, and that's how I want to play.

That was way more committed to my tennis. You know, I think when I was stressed there, my reaction was to step more in and come more to the net and be even more aggressive. Now my reaction was, okay, I'm stressed, I'm going to fall three meters behind the baseline.

You know, a player like Jack who is full of confidence, just beat Carlos yesterday, you cannot give him this time to play, and he's going to make you move side to side and going to hit winners.

I think in my mind it's very clear what I need to practice on the next day and what I have to do better in Miami. It's really to play way more aggressive.

I think actually seeing Alcaraz play yesterday was -- you know, of course it was unfortunate for him, but, you know, I kind of like the way that he lost that match in a way, because he went out swinging.

You know, he's so committed to his game, and I think that's the reason why he's 21 and with four Grand Slam titles and a bunch of Masters titles, I think that's because he's so committed to his game style, and the same, Sinner has done well, and I think this week that's what Jack has been doing incredibly well.