Argentinians are known as passionate sports fans and
Holger Rune experienced that at the
Argentina Open in Buenos Aires as he took on native Sebastian Baez.
Trying to shake off a very rough start to the season, Rune went against an up and coming player in Sebastian Baez. Both of them competed at the 2021 Next Gen Finals in Milan and know each other well. While the players showed respect to each other the crowd was less inclined to do so as Baez enjoyed heavy support during the match.
Rune took exception to it, both during the match and after venting his frustration on social media after the match. He wrote:
"Beautiful tournament @argentinaopentennis but unfotunately not a nice atmosphere when playing match today. I
don't like people yelling 'shut up" to me during my match or the whole
crowd deliberately making noise when I serve and things and like that.
It was disrespectful to me and to the sport. All respect to the umpire
who nicely tried to appeal to respect."
Rune further wrote:
"I fully understand that people support their national players but
people have to remember that this is not a football and the players
doesn't have to (have) teammates on (the) court to support (him). It's a
balance. Support is nice but harassment is (a) no go in sports, schools, wherever."