French Open 2025: 'Towel-gate' incident with fan shows what Holger Rune needs to reach next level says Tim Henman
Updated 30/05/2025 at 20:43 GMT+1
Holger Rune reached the fourth round of the French Open 2025 with an eventful win over Quentin Halys. The world No. 10 hit a shot-of-the-tournament contender around the net post but was also involved in a heated moment with a fan, telling the umpire "he tried to grab me". TNT Sports experts Tim Henman and Anne Keothavong gave their views on both incidents.
'The kind of attitude you get from Rune' - Henman reacts to 'towel-gate' incident with fan
Video credit: TNT Sports
Tim Henman believes a 'towel-gate' incident involving a fan at the French Open showed what Holger Rune needs to work on to get to the "next level".
Rune battled through in five sets to beat Frenchman Quentin Halys in the third round, having been two points from defeat in the fourth set.
As well as a stunning shot-of-the-tournament contender, the match also saw Rune vent his frustration towards a fan sitting courtside.
At 5-5 in the third set, Rune appeared to ask the umpire to eject a fan who was sitting close to his towel box, saying "he tried to grab me".
Replays showed Rune throwing his towel down in frustration in front of the man, who leaned forward and seemed to make a move towards the towel.
Rune went on to lose his service game and although he ultimately won the match, TNT Sports expert Henman thinks the incident showed where the world No. 10 needs to improve.
"I think the fan is probably looking to get a bit involved but you could see Rune going over there giving the advertising hoarding a kick and slamming the towel down and then going back to it.
"At the end of the day it’s that type of attitude that we have seen a lot from Rune and he has to focus his attention to what is happening between the lines.
"I take it back to Jack Draper last night playing against Gael Monfils, the French local hero, and he was so resilient and tough and only had one very brief moment of frustration at a change of ends when he let off steam.
"I think Rune is an immense talent, he is a great athlete and works hard, but if he wants to go the next level it’s attitude, it’s having that resilience not to get flustered and interact with someone with the towel on the side of the court.Â
"But he got the job and has another chance."
Asked about the incident afterwards, Rune said: "I put my towel down in the box, and the guy was yelling aggressive with me. He reached out for me. I thought this was very strange, because I did not do anything against him and he should not interact with a player on the court, it's a bit embarrassing.
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Watch as furious Rune tells umpire fan 'tried to grab' him during match
Video credit: TNT Sports
"I told the supervisor that I would prefer him not being there, because it was a bit uncomfortable. They said they'd check the video, and I guess if it was true what I said they would get him away. I guess they checked, and I didn't see him for the rest of the match. That was good, because it is not a nice feeling when the crowd is getting aggressive with you when I basically did nothing.
"I am allowed to hit the towel into my towel box. I didn't do anything against him.
Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup captain Anne Keothavong added: "I did question why the towel box has to be so close to the fans.Â
"You are getting in their grill if you want to as a fan and that man certainly got into Rune’s grill. Maybe they could situate it differently."
Rune next faces Lorenzo Musetti in one of the standout ties of the fourth round.
Shot of the tournament contender?
Rune also produced a moment of magic against Halys.
Leading 4-2 in the second set, Rune looked to be in trouble as Halys returned a drop shot with another drop shot at an incredibly acute angle.
But the Dane scrambled to his left and managed to stretch and return the ball around the net post for a winner.
He reacted by raising a finger in the air and smiling to the cheering crowd.
Asked if it was the shot of the tournament so far, Henman said: "It’s up there, it’s a contender."
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Watch as Rune wins incredible point with stunning round-the-net winner
Video credit: TNT Sports
Both Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev have also hit winners from around the net post at the French Open 2025.
Reflecting on the latest round-the-net winner from Rune, Keothavong said: "It wasn’t a bad drop shot from Rune, but then drop shot from a drop shot, how many times have you heard that, but then that angle…to even get your racquet to it takes some doing.Â
"Thank goodness they have a singles net on this court."
Stream the 2025 French Open live and on-demand on discovery+
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