After tennis star Holger Rune‘s recent string of losses, including a lopsided defeat at the Shanghai Masters, his sister Alma Rune has revealed she and their family received online harassment and threats. Alma made a public statement condemning the abusive messages and warning she would get law enforcement involved if it continued. 20-year-old Holger Rune has suffered six straight defeats since his breakthrough run to the Wimbledon quarterfinals in July. His one-sided loss in the opening round of the China Open, winning just one game against Felix Auger-Aliassime, has sparked online criticism of the young Dane’s dip in form.
In the aftermath, Alma Rune shared on Instagram that she, Holger, and their family have been targeted with threats and abuse on social media due to her brother’s struggles. Alma issued a stern warning that she would report all harassment to the police, refusing to tolerate it.
She wrote,?Holger has faced unimaginable pressure, and it took a toll on him and our family. Tennis is not just a game; it’s a battlefield of emotions and expectations,” she revealed.
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Holger Rune to move on from recent misery
After being thrashed for the loss at the Shanghai masters, which took quite a toll on him and his family, Rune finally tried to move on from the hatred he received. Rune quoted, ?Firstly my mind is to get back to my level & from there start improving again. It would be great to say that after a good, & then not a good year, to at least say that I finished in Turin. Like always, it’s still to be the best in the world. I’ll just try to do everything as good, so I give myself a good chance this year.?
Holger Rune is focused on getting his level back:
?Firstly my mind is to get back to my level & from there start improving again. It would be great to say that after a good, & then not a good year, to at least say that I finished in Turin. Like always, it’s still to be the best? pic.twitter.com/pAFtoI0KOo
? The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) October 10, 2023
Although he was also taken down by the injuries, he plans to get back soon, aim for greater heights, and make his family and fans proud once again.
Holger Rune aims to secure a place in the 2023 ATP Finals
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Despite recent struggles, Rune still has opportunities to rebound during the fall indoor swing at events in Stockholm, Basel, and Paris. But with over 1500 points to defend as the reigning champion in Stockholm and Paris, Rune faces pressure to repeat past results.
Currently world #5, Rune is also seeking to qualify for his first ATP Finals appearance. With only four spots left and intense competition from titans like Rublev, Tsitsipas, and Fritz, Rune must get back on track quickly to secure his Turin debut.
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Though enduring a difficult mid-season lull, the ambitious young gun remains focused on finishing 2022 strong and proving he’s arrived as a contender. Rune has shown his talent before and can overcome this bout of adversity.
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