"Better keep the volleys sharp when Roger Federer is hanging just above you" - Holger Rune jokes about Rotterdam practice

Holger Rune has found the funny side of practicing volleys in the backdrop of a Roger Federer picture ahead of his Rotterdam ATP 500 campaign.

Rune, 19, is coming off a semifinal run in Montpellier last week, losing to Maxime Cressy in a third-set tiebreak. The World No. 9 is 7-3 on the season, making it to the fourth round at the Australian Open last month, where he squandered match points against Andrey Rublev.

The Dane is the fourth seed in Rotterdam, behind Stefanos Tsitsipas, Rublev, and Felix Auger-Aliassime. Ahead of his Rotterdam debut, Rune was seen sharpening his volleys, with a picture of Federer in the background at the indoor facility. The teenager tweeted:

"Better keep the volleys sharp when Roger Federer is hanging just above you."

Better keep the volleys sharp when @rogerfederer is hanging just above you 😀 @abnamroopen 🎾 #firstpractice #rotterdam https://t.co/lM8w7cEKUf

Roger Federer, widely regarded as one of the best players in the sport's history, was a fine volleyer. The 41-year-old retired at the Laver Cup last year after battling injuries for more than a year.

The 20-time Grand Slam winner is a three-time winner in Rotterdam, going all the way in 2012, 2015, and 2018, and was a losing finalist in 2001. His latest triumph made him the oldest World No. 1 in ATP history.

Meanwhile, Rune is in Tsitsipas' half of the draw and could meet Rublev or defending champion Auger-Aliassime in the final.

ATP500 Rotterdam main singles draw https://t.co/rt5JJrGV2B

Holger Rune is looking to win his first title of the year, having won three in 2022, including the Paris Masters.

Carlos Alcaraz likens Roger Federer with Lionel Messi

Former World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz has likened Roger Federer to 2022 FIFA World Cup-winning Argentina captain Lionel Messi. Both Federer and Messi are widely regarded as two of the best players to have graced their respective sports.

The Swiss was the epitome of poetry in motion on a tennis court, thanks to his silky elegance and effortless movement, making tennis look too easy during his illustrious career spanning more than two decades. With his single-handed backhand, he more than held his own against powerful double-handers, winning 103 singles titles.

Meanwhile, the great Lionel Messi is one of the most decorated players in football history. The record seven-time Ballon d'Or winner has won every major trophy across club and international football.

Ahead of his Argentina Open campaign in Buenos Aires, Alcaraz talked about the two greats.

"Federer is the Messi of tennis because of how easy he (looked playing). Messi was the superhero in the World Cup and practically put himself in the entire country so that Argentina would consecrate itself in Qatar. I loved (Federer's) tennis. I loved watching him play. I was watching his highlights all day, watching matches," Carlos Alcaraz said.

Roger Federer retired with an impressive 1251-275 record, spending a record 237 consecutive weeks as World No. 1.