Holger Rune is not happy with his US Open court assignment

TENNIS CHANNEL LIVE: Rune certainly knows how to make a splash on social media.

NEW YORK—Anybody have a map?

Holger Rune is happy to lend you his so you might catch his 2023 US Open first round against Roberto Carballés Baena. The No. 4 seed doesn’t appear pleased to be kicking off his campaign on Court 5, one of the Open’s smaller show courts.

“In case you can[‘t] find court 5, this is where I play my first match Monday followed by 11:00,” tweeted the 20-year-old, who is currently at a career-high ranking in his third US Open appearance.

Court 5 stands in the center of a trio of outer courts 4-6, not far from Arthur Ashe Stadium where Rune made his US Open main-draw debut in 2021 against Novak Djokovic.

“There’s spacious elevated seating,” raved our very own Ed McGrogan back in 2017. “From this perch, you can watch practice sessions behind you, a match below you, and additional action on the sides. At ground level, you can practically touch the players, and it’s not a hassle to find a seat.”

For a fan looking to camp out from first ball to last on an early-round show court, there is hardly a better option on the grounds. For a busy journalist—particularly one not as tall as Mr. McGrogan—Court 5 isn't ideal when intermittent in-person viewing is all that the first week typically allows. The court fills up fast and the crowded underpass that connects Courts 4-6 makes for a tricky commute to and from the ostensibly adjacent media center.

But Rune isn’t the first Dane to take issue with humble Court 5. Back in 2017, Rune’s potential Olympic mixed doubles partner Caroline Wozniacki was originally assigned to play Ekaterina Makarova.

Rain ultimately drove them out to the slightly larger Court 17 but the former No. 1, who will be making her US Open return after three years away from the game, was still smarting from the initial snub in her post-match press conference.

“Putting out a schedule where the No5 in the world is on court five, fifth match on, that’s unacceptable,” she said after Makarova beat her in three sets.

“Finally, they moved us to court No. 17, which is a really nice court, actually, and we had a great atmosphere out there. But they should look into what they need to do in the future.”

Barring a change in the weather, it looks like Rune will have to win his way to a bigger court—preferably one with media seats! 🙏