Holger Rune Denies Anna Kalinskaya’s Recent Claims About Him

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Vivek Devane | Last updated Sep 9, 2025 1:33 PM ET

In a recent interview, Russian tennis star Anna Kalinskaya revealed that she has often received unwanted advances from fellow players on tour. One name she specifically mentioned was Danish world No. 11 Holger Rune. According to Kalinskaya, Rune had “pinged her multiple times” in an attempt to ask her out on a date, but she chose to ignore him until he eventually gave up.

The story quickly gained attention across the tennis community, sparking curiosity among fans about the behind-the-scenes interactions between players.

Holger Rune, however, was quick to respond and deny Kalinskaya’s version of events. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the 22-year-old dismissed the claims in a playful yet firm tone: "Ha ha ha. We might have cultural differences that make Anna read a comment on a story as an invitation to a date If I want to go on a date, I ask for a date. Don’t worry."

Ha ha ha. We might have cultural differences that make Anna read a comment on a story as an invitation to a date if I want to go on a date, I ask for a date . Don’t worry
— Holger Rune (@holgerrune2003) September 9, 2025

His response suggested that while he may have interacted with Kalinskaya online, he never actually asked her out and felt that his comments had been misinterpreted.

The light-hearted denial has only added more fuel to the debate, with fans weighing in on both sides of the spat. Some believe Rune’s comments, while others point to Kalinskaya’s candid remarks in her interview as proof that his interest was more direct.

It remains to be seen how this back-and-forth develops and whether either player chooses to further clarify their side of the story. For now, the exchange stands as one of the more unusual off-court storylines in tennis this season

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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