Still disappointing in Rome, Rune explains: "It's extremely frustrating not to be able to perform due to insufficient food and drink intake."

Is it hard for the Rune clan to accept defeat? Plunged into a series of rather disappointing results, the Dane doesn't really seem to be questioning his level of tennis. Beaten in Monte Carlo (by Sinner, 6-4, 6-7, 6-3), Munich (by Struff, 6-2, 6-0) and Madrid (beaten by Griekspoor, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3), he didn't fare much better in Italy. After a good first match, the Dane fell back into his old ways, losing to a very good Sebastian Baez (2-6, 6-2, 6-3 in 1h48).

Eliminated in the third round despite being an outgoing finalist, the 21-year-old looked back on this latest setback. Demonstrating his legendary aplomb, Rune was content to point to a dietary error: "I trained very well and hit the ball well before the Rome tournament. I also feel I played a very good match in the second round and a good first set last night. My tennis is back to a high level.

So, of course, it's also extremely frustrating not to be able to perform as well as possible, due to something as impractical as insufficient food and drink intake. This simply can't happen at the level I work at. [...] I know what to eat and drink during a match and I didn't manage it during the match."