By Scoop Malinowski
Stan Wawrinka was not pleased with Holger Rune’s behavior during their Paris Indoors clash of titans today.
The very ambitious and super intense Rune saved three match points to down the fading, 37 year old Wawrinka 46 75 76 at Paris Rolex Masters in their hard fought, second round duel.
During the marathon battle, Rune didn’t do anything excessive or worthy of condemnation, he simply played his heart out and unleashed his best tennis, powered and fueled by emotional adrenaline and self belief that Stan doesn’t have anymore.
So at the net handshake, Wawrinka decided to offer his “advice” to Rune… “my advice to you is to stop acting like a baby on court.” But Stan is wrong about this, he’s supposed to be focused on his side of the net and not concerned with Rune’s feelings and fiery emotions.
Remember, it was Mirka Federer who called Stan a “crybaby” during a Federer vs Stan match at World Tour Finals.
I don’t see anything wrong with Rune’s on court demeanor, in fact I applaud it. This is a young player who wants to be world no. 1 and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get there. This should be commended. Rune aspires to be extraordinary, a superstar, not another middle of the pack player like Gasquet, Mannarino, or Goffin. Rune wants to be a world champion, Grand Slam hero and big ticket selling major attraction. The ATP industry needs all the big stars it can produce, so high praise to Rune for daring to be great.
If Stan doesn’t appreciate the drive, passion, fury and killer instinct Rune has, well maybe it’s time to call it quits.
Holger Rune · Paris Rolex Masters · Stan The Man · Stan Wawrinka
Sam · November 2, 2022 at 12:34 am
Waaaaaaaah!!! Didn’t see the match, but from the looks of it, Stan the “man” may well be projecting. 🍼 😏
Scoop Malinowski · November 2, 2022 at 8:13 am
Sam, yes Stan is projecting, this loss killed him, maybe the end for him. He lost his mind in that moment of defeat and made an a55 of himself giving Rune a lecture about maturity on court, not unlike Nadal giving Sonego the lecture about his grunting. Weird form of bullying by these arrogant superstars coming out in the heat of battle.
Matt Segel · November 2, 2022 at 6:37 pm
Really not a great look from Stan. Great to see Holger come out and destroy Hubie, in the sense that he responded in a great way. I like Hubie. Rune looks like a great athlete. In some Instagram rally clips I thought he was Rafa at first glance, in terms of his legs. Quite an intriguing crop of under 22’s (extended for Felix)