Rune reveals the keys behind Sinner's progress: "I saw him train four hours a day without fail"

Streaming ATP Madrid live tennis

🎾 Arthur Fils vs Jiri Lehecka

1. Sign up with Bet365 here
2. Make your first deposit of at least €5
3. Go to the “Live” section and watch every match

Watch the match on Bet365

 PUBLICIDAD

Register at bet365, deposit €5 or more into your account and you will receive 100% of your eligible deposit in Bet Credits (up to €100). New customers only. Terms apply. Winnings do not include the value of Bet Credits. Maximum prizes, game restrictions, time limits and terms apply. Registration required.

Two and a half years ago, Jannik Sinner and Holger Rune faced each other in a fierce clash in the semifinals of the Masters 1000 in Monte Carlo. It was 2023, and different winds were blowing, winds that proclaimed the Dane as the potential great rival of Carlos Alcaraz and placed the Italian in a somewhat secondary scenario, with doubts about his physical condition and competitiveness in crucial moments. In fact, the Dane won that duel. It could have been the prologue to a great career at the top for Holger... but how things have changed in just a few months.

Ultimately, it was the one from San Candido who picked up the baton and ended up ruling the tennis world with an iron fist (alongside Carlos Alcaraz, who has not deviated at all from the forecasts). Jannik arrives at the Australian Open 2026 as the top candidate for the title, the man best positioned to conquer a tournament he already knows how to win. What factors have contributed to such a huge leap in level in the last two and a half years? Why Jannik and not Holger? In a conversation with Served, Andy Roddick's podcast, the Dane shared his testimony without any filter, highlighting the Italian's brutal work ethic and admitting that perhaps he has not reached that level.

"Jannik improved a lot from 2023 to 2024, the year he started winning Slams. He was achieving very similar results to mine before he exploded in the Majors; he was already an incredible player, reaching Masters 1000 finals and things like that, but he lacked those little tweaks to become the best. I remember one summer, I was playing in Monaco, and I saw him train for four hours a day, every day, with an incredible level of discipline alongside Vagnozzi. They repeated every shot over and over, never missing a single session. I was there, and when I left, I thought: 'All good!'," recalls the Dane, who, beyond the anecdote, focused on how Jannik has improved globally.

"He truly made that quality leap because he started working better, much more seriously. It's not that his game has changed too much; he just became better at everything he does. He serves better, returns better, hits the forehand and backhand better. I don't feel he has added anything new, even the volley; he has always had a decent volley," pointed out a convinced Holger, stating that the path to his own improvement lies in replicating that work ethic and repetitions he observed from the Italian a couple of seasons ago.

Rune indicates where he stands in his recovery and whether he has set a timeline for returning to the circuit

The focus of the Dane is currently on recovering from his ruptured Achilles tendon. The flow of videos he shares on his social media, consistently, shows his eagerness to return to competition, hopeful and motivated. However, he admits that there is still no clear roadmap regarding dates and that he simply sets small goals within the recovery process, still far from a return to the courts.

"Things are actually going quite well. Mentally, I'm in a good place: my whole family and my team are with me and have made life easier for me. I haven't had any setbacks, which is fantastic. I'm enjoying myself more on the court; now I can hit without crutches. However, I don't have a clear calendar; recovery times depend a lot on the individual and the body. I try to make the most of each day, put all my effort into recovery, do things correctly. I follow what my surgeon and my physios tell me, which keeps me motivated because I have very clear goals; I think about what I need to do in the next ten days, things like that: that keeps me motivated." With the enthusiasm of a small child returning to exercise his passion and inspired by Jannik Sinner, Holger Rune continues his long journey... and we patiently await his return.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Rune desvela las claves tras el progreso de Sinner: "Le veía entrenar cuatro horas al día sin fallar"