"I just switched my brain off": Holger Rune reveals how Roger Federer inspired him to fight to the finish in his thrilling French Open 2R win

Holger Rune drew inspiration from his idol Roger Federer at the 2024 French Open. The Dane, who escaped a second-round defeat, revealed how Federer’s similar comeback four years ago influenced his decision-making in crucial moments of the match.

Rune, a two-time quarterfinalist at the French Open, faced Flavio Cobolli in the second round on Thursday, May 30. While the Dane looked poised to close out the match in straight sets, having won the opening two sets 6-4, 6-3, Cobolli had other plans.

The Italian turned the tide in the next two sets, 6-4, 6-4, to force a decider. A neck-and-neck battle in the final set ensured a super tiebreak, where Holger Rune trailed 5-0.

At this point, Rune said that he remembered Roger Federer’s 2020 Australian Open quarterfinal thriller against Tennys Sandgren.

"All of a sudden, it came into my mind a match when Roger played Tennys Sandgren at the Australian Open," Holger Rune revealed in his post-match press conference, as per Tennis Majors.

The match saw Roger Federer fend off a staggering seven match points in the fourth set to eventually steal the win in the decider 6-3, 2-6, 2-6, 7-6 (8), 6-3.

"He won in five-set match tiebreak as well, and Sandgren had many chances. It was kind of in my mind. I don’t know how it appeared, it just did," Rune continued.

Interestingly, Holger Rune found himself on the receiving end of a similar comeback at last year’s Australian Open.

At the time, Andrey Rublev flipped the script to beat him in the fifth set tie break. Just like the Dane’s score against Cobolli, Rublev, too, initially trailed 5-0 in the super tiebreak.

"I just switched my brain off a little bit and just tried to go for my shots," Rune, who beat Cobolli 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7), said about getting it right this time.

"[Roger Federer] is always very relaxed when he’s playing. I told myself, okay, let’s try to relax. Then I started to hit my shots better, more freedom, got back on track," he added.

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Holger Rune to face a qualifier in third round of French Open 2024

Holger Rune pictured at the 2024 French Open (Image Source: Getty)

Before his win against Flavio Cobolli, Holger Rune got the better of Dan Evans 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the opening round. He now faces a qualifier in Jozef Kovalik in the third round.

The 31-year-old Kovalik, who had never won a Grand Slam main draw match before the 2024 French Open, is having a tremendous run.

After beating the likes of Benoit Paire, Benjamin Bonzi, and Roman Andres Burruchaga in the qualifying rounds, he saw off World No. 50 Marcos Giron and two-time quarterfinalist Karen Khachanov.

Rune, who is defending his quarterfinal run from last year, will thus have his work cut out as he bids for his maiden Grand Slam title at the tournament.