After facing controversy and ultimately bowing out of the 2023 Madrid Open, Holger Rune has clarified that he harbors no ill feelings towards Spanish tennis fans and looks forward to returning to the event next year.
Incident During 2023 Madrid Open
In the third round of the Masters 1000 tournament, 20-year-old Rune lost 7-6(1), 5-7, 7-6(5) to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. The 29th-seeded Spaniard disputed the FoxTenn electronic line calling system during the first set, leading to a lengthy argument with chair umpire Carlos Bernardes and an ATP supervisor. Rune observed the discussion from afar before proceeding to erase the ball mark with his foot, prompting boos from spectators that continued through the rest of the match.
Rune Addresses the Controversy
Rune later used social media to address the incident and defuse tensions. He suggested that the chair umpire and ATP supervisor should have better communicated their decision to the audience, who seemed unaware of the situation. Rune stated, “You cannot overrule a computer call…And they did not bother to communicate this to the crowd.” He also added that he holds no animosity towards the Spanish people and looks forward to participating in future Madrid Open events.
Medvedev Defends Rune’s Actions
During a press conference following his third-round victory over Alexander Shevchenko at the 2023 Madrid Open, fellow tennis player Daniil Medvedev came to Rune’s defense. Medvedev remarked that he didn’t believe Rune did anything wrong and did not deserve the jeers from fans. Despite the negativity surrounding the incident, Rune is looking forward to future competitions and moving past the controversy.
