After Holger Rune misplaced within the third spherical of final yr’s US Open, the Dane took a few days off. He had simply fallen in straight units to Cameron Norrie and was exterior the Prime 30 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. For a participant who has been clear he has ambitions of successful majors and reaching World No. 1, it was merely not sufficient.

“I simply actually instructed myself, ‘Okay, I do not need to be No. 30 on the planet and simply keep right here,” Rune instructed ATPTour.com this week in Toronto. “I really feel like I could be higher and do higher issues, and I do not need to waste my potential. So I labored actually arduous.”

Ever since, Rune has been on the ascent. By the top of the season, he had gained two extra titles, together with his first ATP Masters 1000 in Paris, made one other two finals, served as an alternate on the Nitto ATP Finals and cracked the world’s Prime 10.

This yr, the Dane has made Masters 1000 finals in Monte-Carlo and Rome, incomes wins in 2023 towards stars like Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev and Casper Ruud.

“I improved loads, each mentally, bodily. I actually took every thing far more severe I’d say and I used to be actually decided to push each single day, each event I performed,” Rune mentioned. “I really feel like after the [2022] US Open swing, I actually labored even tougher and I obtained to the extent the place I needed to be.”

For individuals who have adopted Rune since early in his profession, the Dane has all the time been clear about his aspirations and his willingness to work arduous to realize his targets. Aged 20, he continues to seek for each space wherein he can additional push himself to the subsequent degree.

“I assumed I used to be working arduous, however then my outcomes weren’t there, after which I labored 10 occasions tougher. I feel it is all the time been like that,” Rune mentioned. “Once I need one thing, I am prepared to do no matter it takes. And final yr, I used to be not happy with the place I used to be at that second. And I assumed, ‘Okay, there’s a technique and it is to place your foot down and simply work’.”

Rune is at the moment World No. 6, however is trying to find a good larger breakthrough. He misplaced within the quarter-finals of Roland Garros to Casper Ruud and within the final eight of Wimbledon to Carlos Alcaraz, whereas additionally falling within the closing of each Masters 1000 finals he reached this yr.

“I am pleased to be No. 6, however I am not happy. And I do not need to finish at No. 6. I need to be No. 1, it is no secret,” Rune mentioned. “Proper now I am additionally making an attempt to work 10 occasions tougher than I did to start with of the yr. So hopefully, every thing will come collectively.”

A rivalry is starting to develop between Rune and Alcaraz, the World No. 1 who simply gained the Wimbledon title. The Spaniard has achieved what the Dane so strongly wishes. They’re the one gamers 20 or youthful on the planet’s Prime 40 and each are firmly entrenched within the Prime 10.

Former junior doubles companions, they’re starting to compete towards each other for the most important prizes in tennis. This week on the Nationwide Financial institution Open Offered by Rogers in Toronto, Rune and Alcaraz might meet within the quarter-finals.

Not many gamers are eager to face Alcaraz given his torrid stretch of kind. However regardless of the problem, Rune is keen to compete towards and attempt to beat the most effective gamers on the planet.

“I do actually get pleasure from it. And I feel why rivalries are so vital for the game is as a result of it grows it larger,” Rune mentioned. “It will get extra curiosity within the sport and in case you solely have one nice participant, in fact, it is good for that one good participant. But it surely’s not as aggressive [as] when you have many.

“I feel what Roger, Rafa and Novak did and likewise Borg, McEnroe, they [brought] tennis to a different degree and one other dimension, and hopefully we will try this additionally.” 

For now, the World No. 6 will concentrate on what’s immediately in entrance of him and making a superb begin to his hard-court swing. The fifth seed begins his Toronto run towards Marcos Giron on Wednesday.

“The entire leadup to the US Open is actually thrilling. And these tournaments can actually provide help to to construct your recreation to be the most effective on the Open,” Rune mentioned. “[The] higher I can do at this event, that is [the] higher likelihood I’ve to meet my dream there.”