"It was crazy to watch a Danish player win a Grand Slam": Rune recalls watching Wozniacki win Australian Open and inspiring him
Tennis News
Holger Rune
revealed that Caroline Wozniacki was a major inspiration during a joint
interview at the Cincinnati Open.
The
20-year-old young star is in Cincinnati to compete in the Western &
Southern Open this week. As the sixth seed, he will receive a bye in the first
round and will make his debut on Wednesday, August 16th.
Just before
beginning his campaign in the tournament, Rune sat down with former world No. 1
Caroline Wozniacki for a joint interview. During the conversation, Rune
admitted that the Danish player had been one of his significant inspirations as
he grew up and developed in the world of tennis.
“My first
memory of her is watching her from TV and she was playing all the tournaments
and we were on the couch, all the family, watching her,” Rune said.
“The memory
that stands out was when she won the Australian Open. We were all watching. It
was crazy to watch a Danish player win a Grand Slam in an incredible match, so
it was a big inspiration.”
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Wozniacki,
who has just returned to the WTA tour after more than three years of absence,
highlighted Rune's impressive rise, as he reached a career-best ranking of
world No. 5 this week.
“It's just
been awesome to see the quick progression that Holger's been making and now
obviously being top five in the world is so special,” Wozniacki said.
“It's such
a small country, so when anyone does something big in sports or in anything
else, you always root for them and it's just been so fun to watch Holger just
consistently play so well.”
Rune also
had words of admiration for Wozniacki. The 33-year-old Danish player made a
return from retirement at the Canadian Open and secured a victory over Kimberly
Birrel, although she was defeated in the second round by the recent Wimbledon
champion, Marketa Vondrousova:
“It's difficult
after three years without tennis to come back and win matches. It's a big, big
thing to do,” Rune said.
“For sure I think she's playing really well,
to be honest.”
Wozniacki
later said: “He also kicked my butt a couple of weeks ago.”
“I don't
know about that!” the 20-year-old athlete replied.
“I've been
on the other side of the ball and it's coming at you really fast,” she added.
Rune
mentioned the difference between men's and women's tennis to explain his
victory in a practice session with Wozniacki.
“She has an
incredible backhand, but obviously men's and women's tennis is very different,”
Rune said of Wozniacki's game.
“Her
backhand and her fighting spirit I feel are her two best qualities. It took her
to World No. 1 and Grand Slam champion.”
“Nobody
ever won a Grand Slam in singles in Denmark. So to see her do it was like,
‘Okay, maybe I can also do it one day’,” Rune added.
“It just
makes the belief more real if you see somebody do it.”
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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