Nervous Rune threatens to quit match: “I felt unsafe on court”

In recent days, a number of tennis players have had fierce complaints about the behavior of individuals and even entire groups of fans on the courts in Boulogne Forest, and the latest in the series is the Dane Holger Rune.

Before him, great inconveniences were experienced by Miomir Kecmanović, Jakub Menšik, Đaume Munar... The list is not exhaustive, and in the match at the Filip Šatrije stadium, Rune even threatened to surrender the match if one fan, who he claims was very aggressive in the third set and shouted at him, was not removed from the stands.

"I put a towel in the box and the man started yelling at me, he was very aggressive. He stretched out his hands towards me. I realized that it was a bit strange, because he shouldn't have an interaction with a player on the field. It was very unusual. I told the supervisor that I wanted that man to leave, because I didn't feel safe. They said they would watch the video. After they accepted my suggestions, they made him leave," said Rune.

TNT Sports commentator Mallins described during the broadcast that the fan tried to steal Rune's towel and that this was the reason why the Dane ran to the referee in the chair, Kader Nouni, to complain to him.

Nouni's reaction

At the first moment, Nouni did not think that it was enough to remove the fans from the stands, but apparently after the conversation with the Dane and the suggestion of the supervisor, it was decided that the fan should leave the stands.

There are also those who saw the whole story differently and insist that Rune is to blame for the incident, since he behaved inappropriately. Annoyed, he kicked the advertisement near the field and this provoked the fan to react.

"I think the fan had a desire to be somehow involved, you saw that Rune kicked an advertisement next to the court and angrily threw a towel, only to return to get it again. We have seen this type of behavior often with Rune and I think it would be better if he focused on what was happening between the lines," said former Wimbledon semi-finalist, British Tim Henman.

It was clear to Rune that his reaction provoked the fan, but he still thinks he is right.

"I was allowed to throw the towel in the box, I didn't do anything against him. Maybe he was upset that I threw the towel in anger. I can do what I want with my towel box as long as I respect everyone, which I am. And the referee thought so and that's why I didn't get a warning."