"Holger Rune hasn’t even made a Slam SF, this is a joke" - Dane joining Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal & others in '6 Kings Slam' exhibition amuses fans

Holger Rune's inclusion in the '6 Kings Slam' exhibition match, alongside top tennis players such as Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, has amused several tennis fans online.

On Monday, February 5, the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia announced that the star-studded exhibition match would be held in Riyadh in October this year. The event is set to feature Djokovic, Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Jannik Sinner, and Rune.

The 6 Kings Slam signifies Saudi Arabia's growing presence in the world of tennis. The country has been engaging in discussions with the ATP regarding potential investments in the sport, which will be facilitated by the country's Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Furthermore, there have been rumors that the WTA Finals could be relocated to Saudi Arabia in the future. Speculation about that gained traction following the successful hosting of the ATP NextGen Finals in Jeddah last year. If the rumors turn out to be true, it would further solidify Saudi Arabia's position as a prominent destination for top-tier tennis events.

Saudi Arabia is seemingly aiming to create a strong tennis culture within its borders by attracting top players and hosting tournaments. The '6 Kings Slam' is the latest addition to their growing catalog of events.

The inclusion of Holger Rune in the lineup, however, left tennis fans perplexed. One fan found it a "joke" to see the Dane's name on the list, considering he has never even reached the semifinal of a Grand Slam.

"Bro Rune hasn’t even made it to a grand slam semifinal this is a joke. Why isn’t it Tsitsipas? Then there is 2 big 3, 2 little 3, and 2 new gen. Tsitsipas has at least made it to a grand slam final," the fan posted on Reddit.

Comment byu/Appropriategarbage7 from discussion intennis

Another fan joked that Rune's inclusion must have been a mistake.

"Who let my man Rune in, bro thinks he on the team," the fan posted.

Comment byu/Appropriategarbage7 from discussion intennis

Here are a few more reactions from tennis fans:

Comment byu/Appropriategarbage7 from discussion intennis

Comment byu/Appropriategarbage7 from discussion intennis

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A brief look at Holger Rune's 2024 season so far

Holger Rune at the 2024 Australian Open

Holger Rune's 2024 season has been a rollercoaster ride thus far. The Dane kicked things off at the 2024 Brisbane International, where he defeated Max Purcell, Alexander Shevchenko, James Duckworth and Roman Safiullin to propel himself to the final.

However, Rune faced a formidable adversary in the form of Grigor Dimitrov, who defeated him 7-6(5), 6-4 to clinch his ninth ATP Tour title.

He then had a lackluster performance at the Australian Open. The Dane beat Yoshihito Nishioka in the first round, but his journey came to an end in the following match when he faced wildcard Arthur Cazaux. The Frenchman defeated him 7-6(4), 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.

Holger Rune last played at the 2024 Open Sud de France. He began his campaign in Montpellier with a victory over Pablo Llamas Ruiz (7-5, 6-2). The former World No. 4 then defeated Michael Mmoh in the quarterfinals, securing a 7-6(6), 6-4 win.

Rune's journey took an unexpected turn in the semifinals when he faced off against Borna Coric. After conceding a 6-3, 4-1 lead to Coric, the 20-year-old was forced to retire due to an injury to his right forearm.