Holger Rune and Casper Ruud will officially play each other as part of the 2024 Nordic Battle in home and away ties.
Rune from Denmark and Ruud from Norway are considered the best Scandinavian players of their generation, and a recent online interaction sparked interest in a possible exhibition showdown in their respective countries.
Rune was ranked as high as World No. 4 just 12 months ago and has won four ATP titles, one of which is the Paris Masters, while Ruud is a former World No. 2 and has 12 ATP titles.
Just a few weeks ago, the 21-year-old took part in an exhibition tour dubbed the 2024 Champions Battle alongside compatriot Caroline Wozniacki, fellow tennis player Gael Monfils, and his wife, Elina Svitolina.
The day featured singles and mixed doubles matches inside the Jyske Bank Boxen arena in Herning, Denmark. Rune then took to Instagram to invite a willing ATP player to take him on in an official match in Copenhagen later this year.
Ruud would be the man to respond to that open challenge, but he ordered Rune to play him in Norway first. The duo have now collaborated on this venture, and the two matches will be played just three days apart at the end of the ATP season.
The first match will happen in Ruud’s home country as he said in the stipulation, scheduled on November 30th at Varner Arena in Asker. Then it will be Rune’s turn to wow the crowds in Denmark on December 3rd at Royal Arena in Copenhagen.
“Amazing you took the challenge Casper 😀 and fantastic that the event is made possible. Can’t wait to come to Oslo November 30 and then continue the battle in Copenhagen December 3 🦾 let’s have a great Nordic battle.”
Amazing you took the challenge Casper 😀 and fantastic that the event is made possible. Can’t wait to come to Oslo November 30 and then continue the battle in Copenhagen December 3 🦾 let’s have a great Nordic battle pic.twitter.com/6vUCgtoSH3
— Holger Rune (@holgerrune2003) June 24, 2024