Complete Rune Has This Challenge

By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Thursday, March 13, 2025
Photo credit: Internazionali BNL d’Italia Facebook

Daniil Medvedev views Indian Wells semifinal opponent Holger Rune as one of the most complete young players in the game.

The 21-year-old Rune owns all the shots—his biggest challenge is knowing when to use them, Medvedev said.

Former world No. 1 Medvedev edged 20-year-old Arthur Fils 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(7) in a pulsating quarterfinal today.

Meeting the media in Indian Wells, Medvedev praised Rune as a man with multiple gears to his game.

“Talent is really, like, strong, great, I don’t know how you say it, because he has, I would say, probably every shot that you can have in tennis,” Medvedev said of Rune. “Good slice, good dropshot, good volley. He can spin, he can play flat, he can serve well, he can kick well. I feel like he has every shot.

“I wonder even if maybe sometimes it disturbs him, because when you have like that many arms, might even be tricky.”

The Medvedev vs. Rune semifinal is a rematch of the 2024 Indian Wells quarterfinals, which Medvedev won 7-5, 6-4. Medvedev’s most recent title came at the 2023 Rome where he edged Rune 7-5, 7-5 in the final.

“I think we all see him, probably he knows that sometimes he’s not consistent in beginning of tournaments, but when he’s like deep there, he’s a tough player to beat,” Medvedev said. “So I’m expecting a tough match. I need to play well. I’m doing it right now. I’m looking forward.”