"I will review my calendar": Holger Rune hints at not playing Argentina Open again because of poor 'courts'

Denmark’s Holger Rune has expressed his frustration about playing conditions in the Argentina Open. The 21-year-old, who was once regarded as the next big thing, had a hard time in Buenos Aires where he was knocked out in the round of 16 on Thursday after losing to Mariano Navone in straight sets with a score of 6-1, 7-6.

Rune, after the contest, was quoted in a report, where he expressed frustration about the playing conditions. The Gentofte-born also hinted that he might not play in the competition again because of the conditions. “The Buenos Aires tournament is well organized, but the courts are not good. I don’t know if I will play here again. I will review my calendar,” he said.

This is Rune’s second consecutive exit from the competition in the early stage. Previously, he was knocked out from the Rotterdam event as well after losing in the round of 16 to Spain’s Pedro Martinez in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-1.

Rune’s start to the season was not great as he was knocked out from the Brisbane International after losing in the first round to Jiri Lehecka in straight sets with a score of 7-5 and 6-3. In the first Grand Slam of the year, the former world number four’s journey ended in the fourth round as he lost to the reigning world number one Jannik Sinner with a score of 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

The winner of the contest on Thursday, Navone, will face Brazil’s Joao Fonseca in the quarterfinal. The 18-year-old, regarded as the one for the future, cemented his spot in the last eight after beating Argentina’s Federico Coria in the round of 16 with a score of 2-6, 6-4, 6-2. It will be the third meeting between the two players in professional tennis. In the previous two meetings, both players emerged victorious on one occasion.