"Holger Rune needs to ban her";"Carlos Alcaraz's father wouldn't dare" - Fans react as Dane's mother Aneke's advice backfires in Shanghai Masters 2R

Holger Rune chose to follow his mother Aneke's advice during his clash against Matteo Berrettini at the 2024 Shanghai Masters, but the decision backfired spectacularly. As the Dane expressed his frustration towards his mother, fans shared sharp reactions to the pair's exchange.

Rune advanced to the third round of the Masters 1000 event with a hard-fought 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Berrettini. Although he eventually emerged victorious, the 21-year-old let slip a crucial break point in the third set of the riveting encounter in bizarre fashion.

With the chance to take a 5-4 lead in the decider, Holger Rune looked to his mother Aneke in the player's box, who advised him to cover the forehand side on the Italian's serve. However, Berrettini targeted the Dane's backhand instead, easily fending off the break point.

In response to the loss of the point, the 21-year-old expressed his frustration with his mother by sending a sarcastic thumbs-up in her direction.

Fans were unimpressed by the interaction between Holger Rune and his mother, with many urging the World No. 14 to "ban" her from his player's box.

"We need to ban parents from coaching their kids the minute they turn pro," one fan commented.

"He needs to ban her from the box, she's always messing with him 😭," another fan chimed in.

"What is it with tennis parents. I can’t think of any other sport where they seem to feel so entitled to be coach," said yet another.

Others, however, placed the blame squarely on the 21-year-old's shoulders for being overly reliant on his mother for advice.

"Which adult tennis player with a professional coach asks their damn mother how they should play?!" one fan argued.

"The day holgah resolves his mommy issues it’s over for everyone," a fan quipped.

"And this mama’s boy wonders why he isn’t winning slams like carlos and the carrot," said another.

Fans also highlighted the "weird dynamic" between Holger Rune and his mother, pointing out Carlos Alcaraz's father never attempted to coach his son from the player's box despite attending nearly every match.

"I like how Carlos’s dad (that’s the only example I can think of for a current player close rune’s age wth a parent in the box) just watches quietly and doesn’t interfere with his sons play/nor coaches him through stuff. I also feel it’s a weird dynamic with her babying him almost," one fan commented.

"Alcaraz's father is always there but he wouldn't dare do or say something ..JFC owns that role. In Rune's case the problem is roles are not clear . Mom was coaching but she isn't supposed to do it anymore," another fan wrote.

Meanwhile, some fans joked that the World No. 14 had brought the situation on himself by acknowledging his mother's advice with a nod, as it had likely prompted Matteo Berrettini to adjust his strategy and attack the Dane's backhand.

"Okay but why do Rune nod his head in the direction to what his mom said😂😂 Berrettini was probably like "ill just change my mind,"" one fan quipped.

"Or maybe Holger's mum was right, but if her son had been less naive to shake his head to the right, Berrettini wouldn't have changed his mind at the last minute," another fan chimed in.

Holger Rune makes bizarre reference to mother Aneke's smoking, complains about peculiar smell during Shanghai Masters 2R against Matteo Berrettini

Holger Rune with his mother Aneke (Source: Getty)

Holger Rune's second-round clash with Matteo Berrettini at the 2024 Shanghai Masters featured another bizarre moment when the Dane complained to the chair umpire about a peculiar smell hanging in the air under the closed roof.

The 21-year-old hilariously likened the smell to that of his mother Aneke smoking cigarettes, joking about his familiarity with the odor.

"What smell?" the chair umpire was heard asking Holger Rune.

"It’s just around here," the Dane responded, sniffing.

"I’m used to a smoking mom," Holger Rune added, laughing.

Following his win over Matteo Berrettini, Holger Rune will take on Jiri Lehecka in the third round of the Shanghai Masters. If the Dane triumphs over Lehecka, he will battle it out against Taylor Fritz or Yosuke Watanuki for a place in the quarterfinals.