It was the last Tuesday in August 2021, and a frustrated world number one Novak Djokovic left the court at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. This despite the fact that he had won his first round match in the US Open relatively easily. What surprised the Serb was that the audience had bowed to him, without him being close to understanding the reason. Djokovic was to receive his explanation. It was the audience’s excitement about the undescribed and fearless opponent he had misunderstood. On the opposite half of the field was an 18-year-old Dane with the surname Rune. Shouted loud enough by many enthusiastic New Yorkers from the stands, the Dane’s last name appeared as buing. «RUUUNE»: Here is Holger Rune in action against Djokovic in August last year. Photo: Sarah Stier / AFP Tom Petty is said to have had a fairly similar experience, when he and his Heartbreakers warmed up for Bruce Springsteen, but that is a quite different story. In any case, Djokovic must now prepare for more such experiences. Not only from the now 19-year-old Holger Rune, but also from the Norwegian with the fairly similar surname, Casper Ruud. Norway took the first step For this is about something as sensational as that a Scandinavian duo is on its way to taking the absolute tennis top in the world – but definitely without it happening through anything resembling goodwill or cooperation along the way. Everything so far indicates instead that we can confuse many years of Danish-Norwegian rivalry, at a level that moves between fascination and direct discomfort. Everyone knew that Nordic tennis history was going to be written this late Wednesday night in Paris. WRITTEN HISTORY: Ruud advanced to the semifinals. Photo: ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT / AFP The very last of the controversial evening matches was a quarter-final that would give the first Norwegian or Danish semi-finalist at Roland-Garros ever. It was Norway that could cheer. At least the many who followed the drama from the living rooms in their home country. The main character himself, Casper Ruud, was so upset about the Danish opponent’s behavior that he could not help but shake his head when the two opponents had embarrassingly briefly thanked for the match at the net. «Leave! Leave! Leave! » Because if the Danish prodigy impresses everyone with his varied and intense play, there is not as much excitement about the behavior between the ball exchanges. Holger Rune complains, Holger Rune throws the racket, Holger Rune questions uncontroversial referee decisions, Holger Rune asks his mother to leave the stands. His already legendary «Leave! Leave! Leave! HAD TO GO: Aneke Rune did as her son said and left. Photo: Michel Euler / AP Even the otherwise sane and controlled Casper Ruud could not hide his irritation over the Dane’s rude outcome. As Danish BT wrote it right after the match: “He is a sublime tennis player, him Holger Rune, but he still has a lot of work to do with the mental and not least maturity level.” The verdict could not be clearer from his own countrymen. Yet in many ways this is more of a promise than a judgment. Because in this lies an enormous opportunity for the sport of tennis in our neighboring countries for many years to come. Nothing will create greater interest and enthusiasm than a sporting hatred between a seemingly spoiled Danish comet and a more controlled, but visibly annoyed Norwegian world star. The road is getting shorter and shorter Seeing the first Grand Slam showdown between the two young Scandinavians gave associations to some of tennis’ most famous rivals, such as Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg or Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras, but most of all to the legendary meetings between the the Swedish fury Björn Borg and the American showman John McEnroe. Both were completely fabulous tennis players – but with diametrically different appearances on the court. Where the Swede was called “Is-Borg”, the New Yorker McEnroe became known for his seemingly unruly temperament, which went beyond opponents, the audience, rackets and in particular judges. And audiences around the world loved the experience of their diversity. OLD LEGENDS: Björn Borg and John McEnroe. Photo: Elise Amendola / AP For Casper Ruud, with the semi-final place in the Grand Slam tournament in Paris, he has taken the long-awaited last step up in the accepted world elite. The victory remains, but the road there is getting shorter and shorter. And one of the real obstacles ahead, if Ruud does not take advantage of the golden opportunity the 2022 edition of the French Open has given him, will be a Dane who for many years has said he is not happy until he is the best in the world. Holger Rune played football until he started playing tennis at the age of 6, but stopped playing football, because he did not like the feeling of being dependent on others on a team. “Other children would become policemen. Holger wanted to be Roger Federer. Fair enough », as his mother Aneke Rune, formerly dancer at the Royal Ballet, put it to the website TennisMajors. Since then, she has followed him and followed him closely. The same is true of coach Lars Christensen, who has been responsible for him since childhood. So close that it is they who have to take the brunt when adversity finally comes in this year’s French Open – and that against a Norwegian. The heirs to the throne It is the Swedes who have been the undisputed kings of Scandinavian tennis. From Björn Borg via Mats Wilander and Stefan Edberg to more recent Robin Söderling and many more. But in recent years, the development of new stars in Swedish tennis has stopped completely. Instead, there are much smaller environments in Norway and Denmark that have managed to produce the next world stars, through very dedicated and targeted efforts. It has in a quite incredible way given Norway both a finalist in the doubles tournament and, so far, a semifinalist in the men’s singles tournament. And this in one of the sports in the world with the steepest pyramid up to the absolute world top. But where Casper Ruud along the way has almost frustrated us with his striking sanity, we now get it in perspective. In the next few years, we will hopefully from time to time get a feel for what kind of tennis star we as Norwegians could imagine, when he will probably be involved in a number of intense duels with the currently so disrespectful Danish shooting star. THANK YOU FOR THE MATCH: There was no friendly hug between Rune and Ruud after the quarterfinals. Photo: Michel Euler / AP As in life and the world of sports otherwise, the answer is not given. We have experienced it with Petter Northug. We experience it with Henrik Kristoffersen. We get it with a slightly opposite sign with Casper Ruud and his Danish counterpart. These polarizing stars who regardless of preferences never fail to engage. In addition, the new Spanish giant, Carlos Alcaraz, who at the age of 19 is past Ruud in the world rankings and several with him will necessarily have a say in the battle for the most coveted titles, the day mentioned Djokovic, together with Nadal and long-term injured Roger Federer finally giving up its huge dominance in men’s tennis. Currently, Norway has an advantage over Denmark. Wednesday was otherwise an eventful day for the Danes. Earlier in the evening, the nation had held a referendum on its defense reservations in the EU. The people said yes by a clear margin this time. We all left with a feeling that Holger Rune, no matter what it was about, would vote no.
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