Emotional Holger Rune Fights Back Tears After Suffering Third Consecutive Masters 1000 Final Defeat
Holger Rune fought back tears during the Indian Wells trophy ceremony after falling to Jack Draper in the final. This marked his third consecutive Masters 1000 final defeat, following losses in Monte Carlo and the Rome Open in 2023.
Despite being the more experienced player, Rune struggled against Draper, who had never previously reached the semifinals of a tournament at this level. However, the British No. 1 delivered a stunning performance, securing a commanding 6-2, 6-2 victory.
Rune’s disappointment wasn’t just about the loss itself but also the manner in which it happened. He struggled to find any foothold in the match, unable to counter Draper’s dominant play. The 23-year-old Brit overwhelmed him from start to finish and will now rise to No. 7 in the world rankings on Monday.
Meanwhile, Rune was chasing his second Masters 1000 title. Since his breakthrough victory at the Paris Masters at just 18 years old, he has lost four of the five finals he has played—three of them at Masters 1000 events.
Rune became especially emotional during the trophy ceremony as he expressed gratitude to his family. “I have to say thank you to my family back home,” he said, before pausing as emotions took over. “They mean everything to me, and yeah… thank you guys, see you next year,” he quickly added to wrap up his speech.
Despite the disappointment, Rune will move up one spot to No. 12 in the rankings and remains in the hunt for a top-10 return. A strong performance in Miami could be the boost he needs to rejoin the elite ranks.
Hold your head high Holger 🙌
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 16, 2025
Congrats a great two weeks @holgerrune2003 #TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/Jq36pA5V3m
Iga Swiatek took her frustrations out on her team after Dubai loss to Mirra Andreeva
This isn’t the first time Iga Swiatek has shown frustration toward her team in recent weeks. Just last month, Mirra Andreeva claimed her first-ever victory over the five-time Grand Slam champion at the Dubai Tennis Championships..
Following her 6-3, 6-3 quarterfinal loss to the eventual champion, Swiatek visibly snubbed her coach, Wim Fissette, as he approached to console her.
— Madziol (@madziol127) February 20, 2025
At the Qatar Open, the three-time defending champion suffered her fifth consecutive defeat against Jelena Ostapenko. Frustration got the better of Swiatek during the match, leading to an uncharacteristic outburst as she angrily slammed her racket to the ground.
Now, she looks to regroup and refocus as she heads to the Miami Open, aiming to capture her second title there after her 2022 triumph.
