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Carlos Alcaraz Serves as Right Inspiration for Volatile Holger Rune as Retired American ATP Star Voices Out Genuine Concern

Published 04/12/2024, 9:55 AM EDT

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USA Today via Reuters

The Monte-Carlo Masters have now advanced to a crucial juncture. Holger Rune is set to hold the court against the rising Italian champ Jannik Sinner in the Quaterfinals. The young Dan is coming off excellent performances, defeating formidable opponents like Sumit Nangal and Grigor Dimitrov. However, tennis pros still see some error spots, which another competitor in the ATP scenario has already perfected.

In a recent conversation surrounding the events happening in Monte-Carlo, tennis experts Leif Shiras and Jan-Michael Gambill highlighted the promising performances of rising star Holger Rune. While they discussed how he has been up on the rise, they also came up with suggestions for the learning he can seek from players like Carlos Alcaraz.

On one hand, Gambill noted Rune’s physical strength, quite visible at the ongoing event, stating, “Holger out there… he looks so fit it’s ridiculous.” Apart from just the positives, Shiras, on the other hand, pointed out areas for improvement, suggesting Rune sometimes lacks tactical awareness. “Sometimes he’s a little bit not present when he needs to be plugged in,” says Shiras.

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Continuing Shiras’ statement about the notable shortcoming, Gambill suggested Alcaraz’s ability to adjust his game plan mid-match. “He can learn a little bit from what we’ve seen Alcaraz actually make some adjustments,” he said. Suggesting that Rune could benefit from watching matches like these, he added, “Holger can watch matches like those and say well look I could make some just some adjustments from time to time.”

Rune’s recent victory over Grigor Dimitrov unveiled his potential, but the experts agree that he requires adaptability for consistent success. “I get through a few matches then I can play the way I want to play more often if I win,” Gambill added, highlighting the importance of strategic flexibility in maintaining momentum throughout a tournament.

As he explained the areas where Rune needs to work, it still remains to be seen if he takes the suggestion positively to work on the issues. Before that happens, let’s revisit the time when Rune spoke about being the No.1.

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Holger Rune’s ambitions to surpass the likes of Carlos Alcaraz

Holger Rune recently opened up about his firm ambitions for his future in the sport. The tennis star, whose run for the title in Wimbledon was challenged by Carlos Alcaraz as he defeated the young Dan in a three-setter match, aims at completing his revenge.

“I’m happy to be No. 6, but I’m not satisfied. And I don’t want to end at No. 6. I want to be No. 1, it’s no secret,” Rune mentioned, indirectly pointing at his target of taking down Alcaraz and the others who stand ahead of him.

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“Right now I’m also trying to work 10 times harder than I did in the beginning of the year. So hopefully, everything will come together,” he added, dropping hints about the efforts he’s applying to achieve the mark. While he’s currently facing another tough competition in the form of Jannik Sinner, it still remains to be seen if he manages to take him down.

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Written by:

Akshay Kapoor

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Akshay Kapoor, a tennis writer at EssentiallySports, excels in crafting pieces that set new trends. His analytical skills riding on the back of certification in Digital Marketing help inject in-depth research as he covers the business undertakings of Tennis stars. Akshay’s articles touch the entire tennis spectrum, from iconic figures like Djokovic and emerging talents such as Holger Rune and Coco Gauff.
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Edited by:

Deepanshi Bajaj