Beaten from the start, Rune disappoints again!

The 2024 season is definitely not living up to expectations. After very promising years in 2022 and 2023, the Dane is far less successful this year. Without completely collapsing, he has just one victory over a member of the top 10 and has a winning percentage of around 60%.

So, despite a few dazzling performances (finalist in Brisbane, fine quarter-finalist in Monte-Carlo, heroic eighth-finalist at Roland-Garros), the 21-year-old continues to slip down the rankings. Ranked 7th in the world in January, he is now 15th this week.

Unfortunately for him, grass doesn't look set to get him out of his predicament. He just fell in the first round of the Queen's tournament. Faced with a Jordan Thompson in desperate need of confidence, as the Australian was on a 5-match losing streak, Rune proved far too shaky to prevail (4-6, 7-6, 6-3).

Surprised by an uninhibited Thompson (27 winners, 10 unforced errors, 8 aces), the world tennis hopeful will have to react, and fast.

A semi-finalist last year, he'll be dropping a few more points and will need to get back on track as Wimbledon looms, a tournament where he'll have a quarter-final to defend.