Holger Rune is taking a well-deserved breather following his recent exit from the US Open, where he suffered a surprising second-round defeat. While this setback might have left some fans disillusioned, it’s far too premature to write off the young Danish star. His season has been a rollercoaster, punctuated by a formidable victory over Carlos Alcaraz in Barcelona and a commendable run to the finals of the Italian Open. However, off the court, Rune has found himself embroiled in a sensational dating controversy ignited by the candid remarks of WTA player Anna Kalinskaya.
In a revealing interview on September 9, the Russian tennis sensation, who once dated Jannik Sinner, took the opportunity to share her thoughts on Rune’s romantic pursuits. When quizzed about her dating life, Kalinskaya dropped a bombshell: “Someone wrote like 10 times and then gave up.” She was referring to none other than Rune, igniting a flurry of speculation among fans.
Kalinskaya didn’t hold back, launching a scathing critique of Rune’s approach. “He writes to everyone. He deserves all of this…He thinks too much of himself…Maybe he’s just that hopeless, but he’s not the only one like that.” The remark was sharp and certainly did not go unnoticed. Rune, however, was quick to respond with his characteristic wit, firing back on social media with a cheeky retort: “Ha ha ha. We might have cultural differences that make Anna read a comment on a story as an invitation to a date. If I want to go on a date, I ask for a date. Don’t worry.”
This unexpected revelation took fans by surprise, as there has been no public sighting of Rune and Kalinskaya together, either on or off the court. Yet, this isn’t the first time Rune has found himself at the center of dating gossip. Just a couple of months prior, Veronika Kudermetova, the 2025 Wimbledon doubles champion, disclosed that Rune had made a move on her too—only to be met with a polite rejection because she is already married. Speaking on Elena Vesnina’s podcast, Kudermetova shared, “Rune recently texted me. I told him, ‘Boy, I’m probably too old for you. If you looked at my Instagram, you’d see I have a husband.’” Rune’s response? A simple, “oh sorry,” before he ceased contact.
As the rumors swirled around his alleged romantic escapades, social media went into overdrive, with users creating a plethora of memes and jokes about the situation. A parody account called ‘Tennis Centel’ took it a step further, fabricating a humorous Instagram story that claimed Rune was single, lonely, and desperately seeking love. Rune was not amused by the fake news and promptly took to X to express his displeasure, stating, “Too much fake info here on X, please do report accounts faking like this.” The parody account was swiftly taken down, but not before the fabricated post had made its rounds.
Rune later addressed the situation in an interview with Tennis Channel, articulating his frustration with how far things can go online. “I like jokes, I like fun, all of this,” he admitted. “But sometimes it gets a bit too real in a way—even though it’s fake. That’s when I don’t think it’s necessary. Obviously, it’s tough to control the whole internet!” His commentary reflected his stance that while humor is fine, misrepresentation is a line too far.
At just 22 years old, Rune has been on the professional tour since 2020, managing to keep his private life shrouded in mystery. He has kept a tight lid on personal revelations in press conferences, leaving fans wondering if he might eventually share something unexpected. For now, however, all eyes are on his tennis as the Asian swing of the tour approaches. The burning question remains: Can Rune secure another title before the season concludes? Fans are eager to weigh in with their thoughts.
