I first knew of Hulger last year, when he was leading the junior rankings.
I saw a couple of videos on the Morotogrlou Academy Instagram account and I immediately fell in love with his forehand. So effortless and solid. I saw him set up the match point against Tsitsipas today in the fourth round and he was moving him all around the court and looking like he was not even trying.
I occasionally listen to The Tennis Podcast, but sometimes they get too caught up in some players. I heard them talk about how Rune spoke like he had achieved a lot when in reality, he had not done anything.
That is what I love about tennis. A match can change everything. A tournament can catapult a player into the global spotlight.
I followed Rune’s first tournaments at the beginning of the year. He qualified for Adelaide International 1, where he then lost to Moutet in the round of 32, followed by a defeat against the same player in the first round of qualifying the following week.
He lost in the first round of the Australian Open to Kwon, a very tricky player, in five sets. Followed by two losses in the ATP 250 tournaments in Argentina, and again in the Chile Open.
In March, Holger started to get better results. Qualifying for Indian Wells where he then won his first-round match.
In April he won a Challenger title, and won three matches in the Monte Carlo Masters, before winning his ATP maiden title in the Bavarian international. He got to a semifinal in Lyon before getting to Paris, where he is set to meet Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals of the French Open.
His side of the draw is technically open, knowing that Alcaraz, Djokovic, and Nadal will have to fight each other for a spot in the final.
I have not listened to the last couple of podcast episodes, but I’m curious to hear them talking about him now.
People are right when they say to let the racquet do the talking. But I also don’t mind the players talking good about themselves. If you don’t believe in yourself then, who will?
Let the winning strike continue…
Tennis Politics 