“It was crazy to watch a Danish player win” – Holger Rune inspired by Wozniacki’s Grand Slam success

Ahead of the Cincinnati Open, Rune spoke about how his compatriot blazed the trail for Danish tennis with her Australian Open triumph in 2018

Caroline Wozniacki, Australian Open, 2018

Caroline Wozniacki wins the Australian Open in 2018

Jamie Malachy

August 15, 2023

Just as a young Danish tennis player named Holger Rune has solidified his position as a future star of the sport, another Dane by the name of Caroline Wozniacki has returned to the WTA.

Wozniacki – a Grand Slam champion most thought they’d not see in competitive action again – retired after the Australian Open 2020, having won the tournament two years earlier in what was the pinnacle of her career.

Earlier this year, the former world No 1 announced that she was returning to professional tennis after more than three years away from the game – during which time she gave birth to two children.

Denmark now has two household tennis names as we get ever nearer to this year’s US Open.

The pair practised with each other in their native homeland before flying over to North America for the hard-court swing that culminates in the final Grand Slam of the year in New York.

Danish duo practice today! Thank you @holgerrune2003 for a great hit!💪🏻🇩🇰 pic.twitter.com/FMB0KWwK74
— Caroline Wozniacki (@CaroWozniacki) July 31, 2023

Rune inspired by Wozniacki’s legend status in Denmark

Ahead of the Western & Southern Open, taking place this week in Cincinnati, the Danish duo sat down for a joint interview.

Rune spoke candidly about the impact Wozniacki’s career had on him growing up.

“My first memory of her is watching her from TV and she was playing all the tournaments and we were on the couch, all the family, watching her,” Rune remembers.

“The memory that stands out was when she won the Australian Open. We were all watching. It was crazy to watch a Danish player win a Grand Slam in an incredible match, so it was a big inspiration.

“Nobody ever won a Grand Slam in singles in Denmark. So to see her do it was like, ‘Okay, maybe I can also do it one day’,” Rune added.

“It just makes the belief more real if you see somebody do it.”

Wozniacki relishing watching Rune’s rise

Wozniacki made history in January 2018 by becoming the first Dane to win a Grand Slam singles title when she defeated Simona Halep in an epic Australian Open final.

A dream come true!! @australianopen champion and new world #1 😘🏆 pic.twitter.com/aA5pcOqDcy
— Caroline Wozniacki (@CaroWozniacki) January 27, 2018

The 30-time WTA titlist had already cemented her place in the history books in 2010 when she became the first Scandinavian player to hold the WTA No 1 rankings spot.

When Wozniacki finally achieved the aim she had been working for her entire career by winning the Australian Open, Holger Rune was only 14 years old.

Now, still a young gun on the ATP Tour at just 20 years of age, Rune has just cracked the top 5 and has fully established himself as a leading member of the sport’s next generation.

Wozniacki has relished witnessing the rise of such a prominent talent from her homeland.

“It’s just been awesome to see the quick progression that Holger’s been making and now obviously being top five in the world is so special,” Wozniacki said.

“It’s such a small country, so when anyone does something big in sports or in anything else, you always root for them and it’s just been so fun to watch Holger just consistently play so well.”

Backhand and fighting spirit inspire Rune, as Denmark enjoys two tennis stars for first time in history

It is clear that their respect is mutual.

“It’s difficult after three years without tennis to come back and win matches. It’s a big, big thing to do,” Rune said of Wozniacki’s return.

“For sure I think she’s playing really well, to be honest.

“She has an incredible backhand, but obviously men’s and women’s tennis is very different.

“Her backhand and her fighting spirit I feel are her two best qualities. It took her to World No 1 and Grand Slam champion.”

Both Holger Rune and Caroline Wozniacki are now big enough names outside of Denmark to draw huge attention to their matches at the upcoming US Open later this month.

While personal expectations and limitations will be realistic for each, it will do little to taper the feverish excitement in Denmark as two of the country’s greatest sports stars compete at the same Grand Slam for the first time in Danish sporting history.