Holger Rune

Joao Fonseca, Holger Rune To Play 2025 Laver Cup In San Francisco

May 14, 2025 by Randy Walker Leave a Comment

Holger Rune and João Fonseca are the latest players named to compete at this year’s Laver Cup, each making their debut in the competition which will be held at Chase Center in San Francisco from September 19-21, 2025.

The pair join a stellar lineup that already includes Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz for Team Europe, and Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul and Ben Shelton for Team World.

Rune, currently ranked World No.10, will represent Team Europe under captain Yannick Noah. The 22-year-old Dane, has won five ATP Tour singles titles, reached three Grand Slam quarterfinals and appeared in four ATP Masters 1000 finals, most recently at Indian Wells in March. Last month he defeated teammate and World No. 3 Alcaraz to win the Barcelona Open. Rune was set to make his Laver Cup debut in Vancouver in 2023 but was forced to withdraw due to a back injury.

“It feels amazing to be selected to play for Team Europe in San Francisco this year,” said Rune. “I was so close to playing the Laver Cup a few years ago but unfortunately got injured and couldn’t make it. I knew that if I got the chance to play again, I would be ready and I’m really looking forward to the competition and to visiting San Francisco for the first time. It’s going to be a great atmosphere, and I know from talking to the other players that Laver Cup is one of the most enjoyable competitions of the year. I cannot wait to be part of it.”

Team Europe Captain Noah welcomes Rune to his team. “Holger is a fierce competitor with big-match experience and strong form this season. I know how eager he is to be part of Laver Cup, and he will be a fantastic addition to our team in San Francisco.”

Eighteen-year-old Fonseca from Brazil joins Team World following a breakout season that has made him one of the most exciting young stars in the sport. The reigning Next Gen ATP Finals champion was crowned junior world No.1 in 2023 and broke into the top 100 of the PIF ATP Rankings just 16 months later. He qualified for his first Grand Slam at the Australian Open in January, stunning then world No.9 Andrey Rublev in the opening round, and in February he won his first ATP title in Buenos Aires.

“I am so excited to have been selected to play for Team World at the Laver Cup,” said Fonseca. “I’ve watched the event since I was a kid and always dreamed of playing. To now be on a team with guys like Fritz, Paul and Shelton, and to be coached by Andre Agassi it’s just unbelievable! I will give it everything I’ve got.”

Agassi, who also makes his Laver Cup debut as Team World Captain this year, is delighted the young Brazilian will join the team.

“João is the kind of young talent that makes Laver Cup so special,” said Agassi. “He’s fearless, energetic, has a huge game and loves the big stage. His performance this season shows me he’s ready for this. I’m sure he will thrive in the team environment and I’m really looking forward to working with him and getting to know him better.”
Now in its eighth edition, the Laver Cup pits six of the best men’s tennis players from Europe against six of their counterparts from the rest of the World in a thrilling three-day competition.

The three highest ranked players from Europe and the World, based on their ATP singles ranking as of the Monday following Roland-Garros, receive an automatic invitation to play the Laver Cup. If any one of these players chooses not to participate, the offer is made to another high ranked player. The remaining three places on each team will be ‘Captain’s Picks’ and can be announced any time before the start of the US Open. By naming Rune and Fonseca to their teams right now, Noah and Agassi are committing to use a Captain’s Pick on them if they do not qualify based on ranking.

Laver Cup will visit San Francisco for the first time this year, bringing top-level men’s pro tennis back to the Bay Area for the first time in over a decade. Chase Center, home of the seven-time NBA Champion Golden State Warriors and WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries, will host tennis for the first time.

A limited number of Full Tournament and Multi-Session Ticket Packages are still available via Ticketmaster, the official ticketing partner of Chase Center. Single-Session Tickets go on sale this Friday, May 16, at 10:00AM (PT).

For further updates on player announcements, event updates and ticket presales, fans are encouraged to register as a ‘Laver Cup Insider’ at lavercup.com.

Wimbledon Day 10 Picks – Does Chris Eubanks Upset Daniil Medvedev?

July 11, 2023 by tennisbloggers Leave a Comment

Ons Jabeur vs. Elena Rybakina

This is a rematch of last year’s Wimbledon final where Elena Rybakina lost the first set but prevailed in three sets against Ons Jabeur. The pressure of the defending champion has to be getting to Rybakina and in her mind that she beat Jabeur last year and that she has to do it again. Jabeur destroyed Petra Kvitova in the previous round and is showing to be healthy and sharp and we are picking her to avenge last year’s defeat and reach the semifinals.

Daniil Medvedev vs. Chris Eubanks

Chris Eubanks is THE story in American tennis right now as he has streaked into this quarterfinal match after an inspiring win over Stefanos Tsitsipas the previous round. Eubanks is having fun, playing great, humble and appreciative of everything and is swinging for the fences with no pressure. He’s better on grass than Medvedev and we are taking Eubanks to take it at least one more round with the upset of the Russian.

Carlos Alcaraz vs. Holger Rune

Have you seen the video of these two playing doubles together as 13-year-olds on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3gyVfDiWz4 This could be the rivalry of the next generation and we are taking Alcaraz to advance past Rune here but it was be very hard fought.

Roland Garros Day 11 Picks – Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune Is The Man

June 6, 2023 by tennisbloggers Leave a Comment

Ons Jabeur vs. Bea Haddad-Maia

Ons Jabeur declared herself 100 percent fit for Roland Garros at the start of the event, after months dealing with injury woes. Perhaps she came into the French Championships with little expectations, but she will reach the semifinals in Paris for the first time with a win over Haddad-Maia who won’t have much fight after her nearly four hour round of 16 win.

Iga Swiatek vs. Coco Gauff

This quarterfinal is a rematch of the 2022 French final that was won by Swiatek 6-1, 6-3. Swiatek has cruised into the semifinals losing only nine games, while Gauff has been off at times. Swiatek will face added resistance against Gauff but ultimately will prevail.

Alexander Zverev vs. Tomas Etcheverry

Etcheverry, playing in his first major quarterfinal, is going to, deep down, be happy with his result, while Zverev feels he has more track to run on in Paris and will win in straight sets.

Holger Rune vs. Casper Ruud

If you go to the Universal Tennis (MyUTR.com) website, you will see that Casper Ruud has a 15.92 rating. You will also find out that Holger Rune is listed by his full name Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune and his UTR is 16.09. The man with four names will prevail.

Roland Garros Day Nine Picks – Grigor Dimitrov Channels His Inner Lacoste

June 4, 2023 by tennisbloggers Leave a Comment

Alexander Zverev vs. Grigor Dimitrov

Grigor Dimitrov has flown under the radar this week. The only attention he has received basically is because he is outfitted in Lacoste starting this week. In the fourth round he faces Alexander Zverev, who registered a tough and satisfying win over No. 12 Frances Tiafoe. While Zverev is seeded No. 22 and Dimitrov is seeded No. 28, it is Dimitrov who has the slightly better UTR – a 15.89 against a 15.82 for Zverev. Based on that bit of info and that Dimitrov may be channeling some French magic from Rene Lacoste, the man for whom much in French tennis originated from, we will give the nod to the Bulgarian.

Tomas Etcheverry vs. Yosihito Nishioka

Nishioka is seeded No. 27 and Etcheverry is ranked No. 49. However, we are going to go with the Argentine here since clay is his natural, preferred and best surface and it’s not for Nishioka. And Etcheverry has a 15.81 UTR and Nishioka is considerably less for a fourth round match at a Grand Slam tennis tournament with a 15.59.

Holger Rune/Casper Ruud Double

The two Scandinavians – Holger Rune from Denmark and Casper Ruud from Norway – are destined to play in the quarterfinals so look them both to advance in their fourth round matches – Rune vs. Francisco Cerundolo and Ruud over Nicolas Jarry, but not without both being at least four sets.

Day Five Roland Garros Picks – Will Holger Rune and Iga Swiatek Be The Last Players Standing?

May 31, 2023 by tennisbloggers Leave a Comment

Holger Rune vs. Gael Monfils

We picked Gael Monfils to lose in the first round against Sebastian Baez, but he came back from 0-4 down in the fifth set to win one of the most incredible night matches in Roland Garros history (which is not a long history as the French Championships has had limited night play in its history. We should note that Holger Rune is our pick to win the entire event this year, so we want to get that out there. So, obviously, we are picking Rune to win this match.

Emil Ruusuvuori vs. Grigor Dimitrov

Ruusuvuori has a 15.82 UTR vs. Dimitrov at 15.88. That makes this a virtual toss up. The fan poll on the Roland Garros app but Dimitrov, the No. 28 seed, as the winner by a 64 percent to 36 percent, but we will go with the Fin here to pull the mild upset.

Iga Swiatek vs. Claire Liu

Betting on Iga Swiatek to win a second round match at Roland Garros is kind of the equivalent of betting on Secretariat to show at the 1973 Belmont Stakes. You can also take her not just show at Roland Garros but to win the race outright.

How does a Jannik Sinner vs. Carlos Alcaraz final sound? This seems to be what is translating into the next great rivalry in men’s tennis. Just look back at their epics at the U.S. Open last year and from the Miami Open earlier this year. The next step in this rivalry is to play in a major final, which could happen in Paris this year…that is, unless Novak Djokovic or Holger Rune have anything to say about it.

Can anyone stop Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina in Paris on the women’s side? Jess Pegula, Coco Gauff and, wait for it, Elina Svitolina may be the best candidates.