It was certainly a sparkling quarter-final that took place last night at the Roland Garros between Casper Ruud and Holger Rune where the Norwegian triumphed with a score of 6-1, 4-6, 7-6, 6-3 in 3 hours and 18 minutes.
During the Scandinavian derby there were several squabbles with Ruud who had scolded Rune for wanting to control all the marks of the ball. The Norwegian’s response was quite heated asking him to shut up and not talk to him. At the end of the match, we have seen the tension that existed between the two tennis players which then resulted in the locker room.
Rune explained: “Once in the locker room, his staff came to greet me and congratulate me on the game, they were very kind. But suddenly I find Casper coming towards me and yelling in my face, as if to celebrate. I tell him what the hell he was doing. He could celebrate and scream on the court, but screaming in my face was disrespectful. He was very unsportsmanlike throughout the game, so I didn’t want to hug him or talk to him at the end.”
The 18-year-old tennis player then continued his interview: “I have said several times that I admire him a lot as a player and have great respect for him, so I don’t understand his attitude towards me. Perhaps he expects me to kneel before him. 99% of the players on the circuit respect me, I can live without him respecting me.”
Rune criticizes Ruud: “I can live even without his respect!”
During the match Rune had surprised everyone by screaming towards his box with his mother who had then left the court:Â “I love my mother very much, I didn’t kick her out of the court When I’m frustrated I need to be dropped, I can’t listen to my mom and my coach. I wasn’t specifically looking for her to leave, even in the match with Stefanos she did. You know how to give me peace.”
Some world tennis legends, such as Mats Wilander or John McEnroe, have commented that Holger Rune has to control his temper because he can play tricks. Wilander analyzed: “He is a great player, very talented, his shots are powerful, but too emotional.”
McEnore said: “He has to channel his character and intensity better than him, he doesn’t have to let his emotions dominate, but use them to improve his performance.”