At the 2025 Indian Wells Open, Holger Rune provided a moment of tennis magic that many called the shot of the event. Rune displayed his creativity and instinct by hitting a stunning between-the-legs shot—usually known as a tweener—facing Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Round of 16 match. Still, the Dane jokingly confessed that the shot left him in awe amidst the great applause.
Riding high on confidence following his victory of the ATP 500 title in Dubai only weeks earlier, Tsitsipas entered the match as the favorite. On the other hand, Rune had been fighting obstacles, such as a near bout of food poisoning that compelled him to drop out of the Mexican Open. Still, he started strong, dominating the first set and showing no signs of weakness despite his recent challenges.
Stefanos Tsitsipas tried to come back in the second set. Holger Rune was serving down 3-4 and two break points. The Greek sent a well-placed lob that seemed set to give him the advantage. The Dane had other plans as he sprinted back and pulled off a gorgeous between lob that landed perfectly and left his opponent out of position. The audience burst into thunderous applause as Rune brilliantly rescued the breakpoint.
This shot instantly reminded people of Roger Federer’s famous tweener against Novak Djokovic in the 2009 US Open. When queried about the similarity, Rune admitted the likeness but jokingly said it did not quite meet Federer’s standard. Rune is looking to win his second Masters 1000 of his career after earlier success at the 2022 BNP Paribas Masters.
I kind of had the expectation that I looked like Roger Federer when I hit it, and I didn’t quite do that. So that was disappointing. Definitely felt better.
Holger Rune said in his post-match interview
Holger Rune started to turn the tide thanks to that flash of brilliance. Encouraged by the charged atmosphere, he preserved two break points and strengthened his advantage to close the match at 6-4, 6-4. As this was his first top-10 victory on an outdoor hard court, this achievement represented a significant turning point for Rune. Moreover, he lengthened his undefeated streak against Tsitsipas to 4-0, underlining his control in their one-on-one encounters.
Holger Rune’s tweener thrilled and prompted comparisons with one of the sport’s all-time best legends. Done with precision and flair against a top opponent, Roger Federer’s 2009 US Open tweener is still one of the most famous shots ever. Honored by the comparison, Rune quickly acknowledged the greater elegance of the Swiss maestro. It should be noted that Federer has made plenty of tweener shots throughout his career. A year later, in the 2010 US Open, he recreated that shot against Brian Dabul in the opening round.
Holger Rune’s tweener at Indian Wells was evidence of his unbridled style and natural skill. Although he might not rank it with Roger Federer’s famous shot, this moment will remain long in memory. Rune again demonstrates that he is a force to be reckoned with on the ATP Tour with his win over Stefanos Tsitsipas. He hopes to continue his momentum at the BNP Paribas Open as he pursues his second Masters 1000 title.
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