Patrick Mouratoglou: Holger Rune’s “champion’s mindset” sets him apart

WATCH: Rune thrilled the Paris-Bercy crowd with a stunning win over former world No. 1 Novak Djokovic on Sunday.

Patrick Mouratoglou has had a front row seat for Holger Rune’s autumn surge, coming aboard the Danish teen’s team at the start of last month and working with him through a phenomenal run that has seen him reach four finals and win two titles—culminating with an unforgettable victory over Novak Djokovic to win the Rolex Paris Masters.

“I don't know we have seen actually his top tennis,” the coach insisted after Rune rallied from a set down to defeat the 21-time Grand Slam champion, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 and assure himself a Top 10 debut. “It's higher than before, but we have to upgrade his average tennis play and to make sure that his normal average play is as excellent as we have seen so far.”

Mouratoglou, who coached Serena Williams for over a decade—and more recently worked with Simona Halep, who is currently serving a provisional suspension for an anti-doping violation—has seen Rune play since his junior days, giving him a deep insight on just how far he’s come since first arriving at his academy in 2016.

“He was not impressive in his level of play,” Mouratoglou said. “He played very well. He was already among the best among the under-14, but he was not standing out. He didn't have a specific shot. He didn't play loose. He didn't have what some observers were trying to look for. However, his mindset, his determination, he had them already, and this is what made him stand out.

“He had a champion's mindset from the start, and this is what struck me,” he added. “He was very determined. He has so much self-confidence. When I say that, there is a difference. There is a difference between being strongly self-confident and we just need to talk to him the way he looks around him. We see that he really believes in a success. His personality struck me more than anything else.”

He didn't have a specific shot. He didn't play loose. He didn't have what some observers were trying to look for. However, his mindset, his determination, he had them already, and this is what made him stand out. Patrick Mouratoglou on Holger Rune

Rune’s passion and personality have both been on display throughout a breakthrough 2022 season—for better and sometimes for worse—but showed remarkable poise in his first Masters final against Djokovic on Sunday, saving six break points to not only serve out the biggest win of his young career, but also score his fifth Top 10 victory of the week.

“Every time he didn't panic,” marveled Mouratoglou. “He managed to remain focused, to find the right keys. He's gotten actually outstanding mental capacities. Before he could not manage his emotions enough.”

Only six days older than world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, comparisons will naturally arise between Rune and the reigning US Open champion, but Mouratoglou believes both can still vastly improve as they approach their 20s.

“[Holger] still has 50% of capacity, of improvement margin,” said the coach when told Alcaraz believes he is at 70%.

For Rune himself, the percentages are much simpler.

“To do 1% better every day, that's really what I'm trying to do,” he said after reaching the final. “To improve every small thing, to try to get things better, no matter if it's warmup, a little better every day, because it's the small things that make the big difference.”

Mouratoglou and Rune will next head to Turin, where the latter is first alternate for the Nitto ATP Finals but withdrew from the ATP Next Gen Finals, for which he had previously qualified.