“When you make dreams a reality it feels even better”: Rune’s love of sleep and Roland-Garros aspirations

Denmark’s Holger Rune has had an ideal start to Roland-Garros, coasting through the first week with minimal effort. Heading into week two, Rune reveals how his affinity for sleep is key to success in 2023.

Holger Rune, Roland-Garros 2023 – © Federico Pestellini / Panoramic

Bren Gray

June 3, 2023

No 6 seed Holger Rune has seamlessly navigated his way through the first week of Roland-Garros 2023, winning his third-round match against Genaro Alberto Oliveri in under two hours.

Not only has Rune made light work of his opponents at Roland-Garros so far, dropping only the one set, but he’s also benefitted from some good luck as well. The Dane moves through to the round of 16 having only played two matches, thanks to a walkover against Gael Monfils in the second-round.

Off the back of his straight sets win today, Rune heads into week two with plenty of energy in his legs, and positivity about his chances this year.

Rune benefiting from additional rest this week

Holger Rune is seeing the bright side after receiving a walkover in the second-round of Roland-Garros this week.

“I see it as a good thing because I got to rest my body fully and got a few more practice day to adjust to things I wanted to do better.

“Today I think I played better than the first match, so I’m happy.”

The 20-year-old explained how he attempted to simulate a second-round match as much as possible this week.

“First I had the normal day off after my first round, which I took easy because I thought I was going to play.

“Then they said he was going to withdraw, so I put two-and-a-half hours’ practice that day and tried to play like points and a normal set to imitate a real day of match. I got also a little bit tired that day to kind of feel the same.

“Then the last day before the match, yesterday, I took it easy. Today I feel good. I feel like I was ready to go, prepared, was still in the match mode.”

“I really like it”: Sleep key for Rune in Roland-Garros ambitions

When asked about how he spent his time this week after receiving a walkover, Holger Rune has admitted he’s a big fan of sleeping.

“I sleep a lot. I love to sleep. I probably sleep around, I don’t know, 9 to 13 hours if I can.

“I really like it. I think it’s the best recovery that you can have. You know, I actually think the muscle relax, everything relaxes when you sleep, so I try to, you know, every time I can sleep.”

As much as Rune loves to sleep, there’s one thing the Dane is more infatuated with: winning.

“Sometimes I have very good dreams, I stand there with the trophy and stuff. But when you make your dreams a reality, it feels even better.”

With a mouth-watering quarterfinal against Casper Ruud on the cards should both men navigate their round of 16 matches, Rune will be hoping to bring his dream of lifting a Roland-Garros trophy to fruition in a week’s time.