Jannik Sinner is getting closer to his second consecutive Masters 1000 final, but standing in his way is the brash Danish star Holger Rune. The winner will face either Andrey Rublev or Taylor Fritz in the Monte-Carlo final.
Italy’s Jannik Sinner has positioned himself as one of the hottest players on the ATP tour now. The 21-year-old made his way to the semifinals in the first Masters 1000 event of the season in Indian Wells, where he lost to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz. He did one better in Miami last month, where he beat Alcaraz but lost to Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in the final.
He now finds himself at the business end of a tournament yet again. But this time there is no Alcaraz and no Medvedev in his way. Instead he will face Holger Rune, the controversial 19 year-old from Denmark. Rune manages to ruffle feathers of both fans and fellow players with his antics, causing both ill will from some of his colleagues and ire from fans–and plenty of media attention.
This is a compelling matchup of young guns. Sinner is enjoying better form at the moment, with the Italian posting an impressive 21-5 record on the season so far. It’s just a matter of time until he snags his first big-tournament title. It certainly wouldn’t be a shock if Sinner did it this week.
Still, it can’t be ignored that when Rune is playing out of his mind, he can beat anyone. The Dane’s run at the Paris Masters at the end of the 2022 season included five top-10 players including Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. It remains one of the most impressive set of tournament wins ever. He hasn’t been on fire lately, though. Rune hasn’t won any titles yet this year and he got dismantled by Taylor Fritz in Miami.
This one should be a cracker. Expect a fight from both men, with Sinner just edging out the win in three.
Cheryl pick: Sinner in 3
Ricky pick: Sinner in 3
WWW?
Obviously, Runes PAST bad behaviour will never be forgotten! “some of the colleagues” you write about: 2 persons, one of which before their match puplicly announced that he would go after Rune mentally, which he also did (commenting his play during the match several times: “do you have to check every ball” etc.). The other colleague, after loosing his match, asked Rune to “stop acting like a baby”. A match which Rune played without any of the behaviour you like to remind us of. There is always 2 sides to a story, but I guess is’s all about clicks, so targeting a 19 year old is the obvious choice.
Rune has plenty of form. He was formally warned by the ATP for repeatedly shouting out homophobic abuse at his opponent during a match.
And the incident with Ruud where he basically told a bunch of lies about Ruud shouting at him and then doubled down on them when Ruud and his father refuted them categorically shows he is a brat. I mean who would I believe: the winner of the Edberg award for sportsmanship or spoilt brat Rune and his gratuitous homophobic abuse? That’s a tough one.
I don’t mind him really but he has plenty of faults and a lot of people really don’t like him.
I didn’t realise he’d made homophobic comments, Amy. Was he disqualified? That would discourage him! Bet he wasn’t!
No of course he wasn’t Margot!! Just told off.
The comments were pretty awful.
Also his behaviour with super nice guy Casper was really really immature and spiteful.
The ATP is so spineless!
Agreed! The behaviour over Zverev and the umpire was the worst. Quite appalling he was just let off…
What a typical post from this poster.Perfect high moral ground from which to attack players/politicians and everyone else in the same vein. And no evidence they themselves are any better.Just arrogant and opinionated as per usual 😉
I like them both! Yes, I like Rune, plenty of players I find far more irritating.
The kid just wanna win.
Where’a BIG Al? His picks have been genius.
I like Rune as well, very much….but Sinner just too good these days…in 2.
This one can well be a cracker..hope sinner wins this and the title..knocking on doors for a while and his game is very pleasing to the eye…
BTW whats up with rafa…does he even want to play or not it’s been 3 plus months and just withdrawing one tourney after another..coming bad at Madrid will be the worst that court just does not suit him…
Not trying to give Big Al a big head, but he does have some impressive picking skills!
Wow, the Rublev/Fritz match was interrupted by rain.
And Andrey did get a set; gosh, I hope Rublev wins.
As I said yesterday, I like Rune, Rublev, and Ruud, among many others; not Fritz though.
Why not Fritz? I don’t know much about him.
Really like Rublev but, as Amy said, he’s so annoying! Wont come forward, a bit too much like Andy!
Andy has loads of variety Margot..!
Great net skills, fabulous lob, good slice…
Hoping that Andrey develops more variety. It looks like his favorite thing about tennis is hitting the ball hard. And he can do it off both wings. But to win a Monte Carlo or GS, what he’s got at the moment won’t get him there.
He is good enough with what he’s got. It’s been enough to get him a top-ten spot. Players like Carlitos Alcaraz seem to be born with all the skills they will ever need to be #1 in tennis. I love watching Charlie Alcaraz.
Andy has fab volleying skills, which he doesn’t use nearly often enough!
It’s about the stupidity in his personal life. Many people must ignore or are numb to the behavior and consider it normal for someone like him. It hits a sensitive nerve in me.
Fritz, to me, is like chomping on tin foil.
This match is way higher quality.
Come on Jannik!!!😀
I want to see Jannik win his first masters…
At the moment he is out playing Rune…
Ok quality has gone down as Rune is making so many ues.
Sinner is completely out hitting him from.the baseline.
OMG! I’ve just seen Rune’s shorts! Eeuck! He deserves to lose.
Say what
I love watching Rune’s games lol
Very poor really from Sinner in the second set.
5 winners and 25 ues!!
Rune had 5 winners and 18ues so both were pretty dire.
This tournament is really missing Rafa and Alcaraz.
Rune channeling his inner Medvedev, wins 2nd.
Then you need to look at your stats again cause thats not true
I don’t have a great deal of faith in Sinner right now. Feels like ever since Rune got into it with the crowd he is more likely to win.
Hope I am wrong.
Impressive from Sinner to get through that. But 2 dfs was pretty inexcusable.
Congrats to Holger/Commies to Sinner
Holger kept coming up with the right shots.
I am happy for his mother, and she has a great smile. Holger was the more creative and confident shotmaker.
I will be cheering for Rublev in the final. He needs the win and the confidence that comes with a win as big as the MC title for motivation to improve his game. Chances like this one are rare.
19 yr old Holger took more chances today against Sinner, and it paid off. After winning Paris Bercy last fall, Holger has the ability and experience to win another big title like Monte Carlo.
Life is hard. This is Rublev’s second Monte Carlo final, and that first loss was harsh. Rublev beat Rafa in the QF and Ruud in the SF and lost to Tsitsipas in the Final.
(what was wrong with Rafa that MC?)
Ouch. It hurt.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Monte-Carlo_Masters_%E2%80%93_Singles
Rublev has 5 500 titles, 7 250 titles, and a bagel for 1000-point titles. He has now called himself the king of the 500s, with self-deprecating humor. It’s profound to me, his fan.
Disappointing from Sinner.
World class. he kept Sinner from having any break points in the third. well deserved. Sorry Rublev but you wont win tomorrow
Well done RUNe. Think Sinner seemed to lose his focus, perhaps the crowd love put him off. Crowd hate certainly fired up Rune.
Crowd hate was pivot of match. Rune played much better afterwards..
Without it he could easily have lost..
I think you are right, amy.
Of course I am!!!😀😀😉😉
Suspect Rune will win tomorrow. Will drop shot Rublev to death and make him play in area he doesn’t like.
Rublev will have to serve really well..!
The time he beat Rafa at MC Rafa was really off mentally and playing very badly. Then we found out months later his foot was very bad. Then he didn’t play for absolutely ages and many thought his career was over..
Sinner looked a bit exposed today. Alcaraz and Rune are better shot makers and much more creative…Cahill has some work to do. Sinner would hugely benefit from a better serve.
Isn’t it past your bedtime? 😀
The Final is on at 6:30 am my time.
I’ll try to watch it. I know Rublev will lose to Holger Rune. I watched Rune ruin Sinner’s hopes. Holger is motivated by the crowd cheering against him – like Medvedev. My hope is somehow, the young Dane will blow his chance. It would be fantastic for Rublev to get his first 1000 title on his 2nd attempt.
That loss against Tsitsipas started Andrey’s backward sliding.
Now that you mention it, I remember everyone worrying about Rafa’s foot. Isn’t that foot still bothering him?
On a brighter note, I hope to watch Rafa and Carlitos soon. Rafa is not playing Barcelona, but Charlie is.
It’s time for me to hunt down some food. I’ll look for you here if I can wake up in time. Rune will likely end up being someone exciting to watch 😀
I really hope Rublev wins Elizabeth! But if he won’t force himself to come forward to finish the point I can’t see him winning.
However, Sinner completely outplayed Rune from the baseline in set 1. Rune didn’t look very good then so let’s see…
Yeah pity about Sinner . He’s due a Masters title on any surface