Defeated Rune puts ‘too many expectations’ on himself

The seventh-ranked Dane said that he might have also felt the pressure of two back-to-back high-profile tests after reaching the final by defeating world number four Casper Ruud in Saturday’s semifinal.

Published : May 22, 2023 11:14 IST , ROME - 1 MIN READ

Denmark’s Holger Rune poses with the runner up trophy after losing the final of ATP Rome Open.
Denmark’s Holger Rune poses with the runner up trophy after losing the final of ATP Rome Open. | Photo Credit: AFP
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Denmark’s Holger Rune poses with the runner up trophy after losing the final of ATP Rome Open. | Photo Credit: AFP

Holger Rune on Sunday blamed a nervous start and the relentless game of Daniil Medvedev for his 7-5, 7-5 loss in the final of the Italian Open.

The seventh-ranked Dane said that he might have also felt the pressure of two back-to-back high-profile tests after reaching the final by defeating world number four Casper Ruud in Saturday’s semifinal.

“I was very nervous stepping into the match,” he said.

“Maybe I put too many expectations on myself, even if I told myself not to. He played great, really solid from the back of the court.”

The 20-year-old said: “Medvedev likes to grind. If he gets a chance to grind, it’s going to be long rallies.”

Despite his defeat, Rune remains a title contender for the French Open which starts in Paris next Sunday especially with 14-time champion Rafael Nadal missing with a hip injury.

“Paris is the main goal of the clay season. I think I had the matches that I needed to be as well-prepared as possible,” said Rune who also stunned Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals in Rome.

Rune was runner-up at the Monte Carlo Masters and successfully defended his Munich title earlier in the clay court season.

“Now it is the last small things I want to do better the next time I stay in these big matches,” he said after missing out on the chance to win a second Masters title.

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