Holger Rune, Stefanos Tsitsipas feel the rhythm on Taiko drums at Tokyo player party

“This may be the best thing you’ve seen for a while…”

Say it ain’t so, ATP social media team!

Ahead of launching their Tokyo campaigns, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Holger Rune immersed themselves in a bit of local culture. The two joined forces on the “Taiko” drums and performed with impressive synchronicity during the tournament's player party—hardly a surprise given their friendship and past experiences on the doubles court.

Read More: Week in Preview: Aryna Sabalenka in China Open; Laver Cup stars, including Carlos Alcaraz, in Tokyo and Beijing

Rune, dressed in black, couldn’t help but bring out his mega-watt smile while feeling the rhythm. Tsitsipas, fresh off traveling from Berlin, was laser focused in his contrasting white Ralph Lauren fit.

Both competitors will look to drum up momentum as the 2024 season approaches its final stages. Their appearances at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships lead into the Rolex Shanghai Masters, before both plan to maximize the European indoor swing (Tsitsipas signed up for Antwerp, Rune committed to Stockholm).

Read More: Tsitsipas says Grigor Dimitrov is Team Europe's Laver Cup DJ

After a promising semifinal showing in Cincinnati, Rune fell in the opening round of the US Open and then dropped his Asian swing opener last week at Hangzhou. The No. 6 seed begins in Tokyo against Alejandro Tabilo of Chile.

Tsitsipas avenged his first-round defeat to Thanasi Kokkinakis on the first day of the Laver Cup last Friday, though is aiming to win consecutive matches for the first time since the Paris Olympics. Seeded fourth, the 26-year-old faces Alex Michelsen to start at the ATP 500 event.