Holger Rune Revamps Diet to Elevate Game After Uneven Season

Denmark’s Holger Rune is taking significant steps to enhance his performance on the court by overhauling his diet. The 22-year-old player, who is currently competing at the Stockholm Open, aims to elevate his game after experiencing an inconsistent season. While Rune secured the title at the Barcelona Open and reached the final at Indian Wells, he has struggled to maintain a position within the top 10 rankings.

Focus on Nutrition and Training

Following a disappointing quarter-final exit at the Shanghai Masters, where he lost to qualifier Vincent Vacherot, Rune reflected on his performance and sought solutions with his team. Vacherot, ranked 204th in the world, went on to win the tournament, marking a historic achievement as the lowest-ranked player to triumph at an ATP Masters 1000 event.

“I’ve talked a lot with my team after Shanghai. That was a big part of the frustrations I had on court,” Rune stated in an interview with sports website SpilXsperten. “We’ve evaluated it thoroughly and talked it through, and we’ve found some solutions.”

Rune emphasized the importance of both physical training and dietary adjustments in his pre-season preparations. “It’s obviously about getting the right vegetables, rice, and pasta at the right time so my body can feel better,” he explained. “It’s basic stuff, but it’s damn important in order to perform properly.”

Aiming for Grand Slam Success

Despite his potential, Rune has yet to advance beyond the quarter-finals in any Grand Slam tournament. He acknowledged the ups and downs of his season, stating, “I’ve had both good and not-so-good weeks. Right now, I’m just focusing on the present and on playing well in Stockholm.”

As the top seed in the Nordic Open ATP 250 event, he is set to face Argentina’s Tomas Etcheverry in the quarter-finals later today. Rune’s aspirations include not only competing at a higher level but also challenging the dominance of fellow young stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

In addition to his personal adjustments, Rune weighed in on the ongoing debate regarding the speed of tennis courts. Following comments from tennis legend Roger Federer about the impact of slower surfaces, Rune suggested that it might be the tennis balls themselves that have changed, saying, “I actually think it’s more the balls than the court that have become slower.” He added, “I’m sure something changed after the pandemic. The materials in the balls have changed. I’ve talked to many current and former players about that too.”

As Rune continues to refine his approach, tennis enthusiasts will be keen to see if these changes yield the results he desires in the upcoming matches and future tournaments.