The long-running feud between Stan Wawrinka and Holger Rune has erupted after the Swiss veteran won a fierce encounter at Indian Wells, with the pair getting into a verbal clash at the net after the match.
Wawrinka, a 37-year-old three-time Grand Slam champion, upset the 19-year-old Danish prodigy 6-2, 6-7, 7-5 in a thrilling third-round contest.
It was the first time the pair had played each other since Wawrinka lost to the teenager at the Paris Masters last year – and then told him to ‘stop acting like a baby’ after the game.
Rune appeared shocked at the time and never commented publicly on Wawrinka’s remarks, but the young Dane clearly held a grudge.
After Wawrinka served out the victory on Tuesday, the pair walked to the net to shake hands.
The long-running feud between Stan Wawrinka and Holger Rune has erupted after the Swiss veteran won a fierce encounter at Indian Wells, with the pair exchanging words at the net after the match
‘Good game, you OK?’ Wawrinka asked.
‘You got nothing to say now? You got nothing to say now?’ Rune replied.
‘What do you want me to say?’ answered Wawrinka.
Rune packed up his bags swiftly and left the court, but one commentator was quick criticise the seventh seed.
‘Unnecessary from Holger Rune at the net,’ he said.
The tennis world had a field day with the spiteful interaction, with most fans siding with Wawrinka.
‘Holger Rune is such an unbelievable d***. @stanwawrinka is such a gent for not slapping him,’ said one twitter user.
‘Holger Rune is such a punk. He’s earned this lesson,’ commented another.
It was the first time the pair had played each other since Wawrinka has lost to the teenager at the Paris Masters (pictured) – and then told him to ‘stop acting like a baby’ after the game
The tennis world had a field day with the spiteful interaction, with most fans siding with Wawrinka over the volatile teenager
‘Holger Rune proved, once again, that he is a baby and a brat. He needs to grow up and show respect for other players,’ said another.
Others could definitely see things from Rune’s perspective.
‘Hard to blame Rune for saying something to Wawrinka at the net. Have to give credit to him for saying it to his face.’
Rune has been criticised for his on-court behaviour before.
In 2021 the ATP investigated him for yelling homophobic slurs multiple times as he faced Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the Biella Challenger tournament in Italy.
And in June 2022 Rune said he was confronted in the locker room by Casper Ruud after losing to him in four feisty sets in their French Open quarter final.
Rune has been criticised for his on-court behaviour before, with the youngster investigated for yelling homophobic slurs multiple times as he faced Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the Biella Challenger tournament in Italy
Wawrinka is no stranger to on-court controversy, and reportedly had to be separated from Nick Kyrgios after their clash at the 2015 Canadian Open
Ruud was left unimpressed by Rune’s very frosty handshake after the contest, which saw the furious Dane repeatedly shout at the umpire and even appear to yell at his mother as she sat in the player’s box.
Afterwards, Rune claimed Ruud ‘just went straight up to me and shouted “YES” right up in my face … that’s such bad style, have some respect’.
Ruud’s father called the accusation about the locker room clash ‘a pure lie’ and the Dane later admitted he ‘requires more emotional control’.
Wawrinka is no stranger to on-court controversy, either.
In 2019 he was accused of encouraging the crowd to abuse Nick Kyrgios during their Mexican Open clash, and it was alleged that the pair had to be separated at the 2015 Canadian Open after the Australian star told the Swiss that Thanasi Kokkinakis ‘banged your girlfriend’.
Wawrinka will next play either 11-seeded Jannik Sinner or Adrian Mannarino in the fourth round.
