Holger Rune doesn’t agree with Alcaraz’s criticism of fast courts at Indian Wells

Indian Wells, which has long been known for its gritty, Indian Wells, which has long been known for its gritty, Indian Wells, which has long been known for its gritty, slow hard courts, has been resurfaced this year by Laykold, the company that also provides surfaces for the Miami Open and U.S. Open, to make playing conditions more consistent.

Although the fast courts are supposed to help bigger servers, they could spell trouble for players like two-time defending champion Alcaraz, who relies more on his creative shot-making than sheer power.

The Spaniard arrived in the Southern California desert late on Monday and said he had not had a chance to try out the courts.

“Honestly, it’s a change that I didn’t understand when I saw it. It was 25 years, the tournament, it was the same court, and then right now has changed. I don’t know the reason why they did it,” he said.

“I have to practise on it,” he added. “I consider myself a player who adapts very well my game on the surfaces and all the conditions that you’re playing on.”

Holger Rune is, however pleased with the initiative to make the courts faster.

“Faster courts make the game faster and that change appeals to Rune.  

“In general, I think it is better if all the tournaments on the ATP Tour become a little faster, because the balls are slow these days. It makes the games cooler because you have the slow balls, but the slightly faster courts. It makes the game quite interesting.”

“There are too many fast balls on fast courts and slow balls on slow courts. So I think that Indian Wells and other tournaments are trying to find a fine balance, and that’s good for the players”, says Rune.

Holger Rune plays his first game in the tournament tomorrow against the Frenchman Corentin Moutet.