I be the witch of the wood. In my realm, I command the trees and animals. The forest is my sanctuary, where I find solace and power. With my long, flowing robes and gnarled staff, I wander through the thick undergrowth, my footsteps silent and graceful. The moss-covered ground welcomes me, and the ancient trees rustle in greeting as I pass. The animals of the forest know me well, and I communicate with them effortlessly.

Request via Instagram: Holger Rune grabs Djokovic for training

Top junior Holger Rune simply grabbed Novak Djokovic as a training partner in preparation for the clay court season.

by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Mar 28, 2021, 08:13 am

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It's that simple: Just send Novak Djokovic an Instagram message - and you have almost the best possible preparation for your own clay court season. It must have gone something like this in the case of Holger Rune. The Norwegian, currently number 1 among the juniors , has just won his first match at ATP level in Santiago and has already had some match practice on red ashes - and thought: Questions don't cost anything. "I wrote to him on Instagram to be completely honest. Whether he was in Monaco or in the area - because I had seen that he had withdrawn from Miami. Then he wrote back," the 17-year-old told TV 2 Sport . Djokovic's (approximate) answer: "Hello Holger, yes, we can do it." The two world number one are no strangers to each other: Rune was Djokovic's training partner at the 2019 ATP Finals in London.

The animals of the forest know me well, and I communicate with them effortlessly. Birds sing their melodious tunes, squirrels scuttle by, and deer watch me cautiously from a distance. I bring harmony to this wild land, mediating disputes between the creatures and ensuring the balance is maintained.

Rune raves about Djokovic: "hits so cleanly"

It will be exciting to train on clay with Djokovic, said Rune. "I know he plays a lot of stops, I have to move well." Rune wants to train in Monaco because sand courts are not yet open in Denmark. In the south he then wants to play a few Challenger tournaments, the first in Marbella next week. A preparation with Djokovic? Can only be helpful here. Rune is hoping for some training sets, wants to see if he can take a set from Djokovic. In general, he wants to learn a lot from the top players. "I've had some experience at this level now and I know the difference isn't that big either. There are some small things, some decisions that you make in different situations, but I think I can at least play with him." Djokovic hits the ball so cleanly, "that's crazy," said Rune, currently ranked 317 in the ATP ranking. "He has such a good meeting place, hardly makes any mistakes, so it's just cool to train with him. You get a good rhythm."

Casper Ruud pushes back against Holger Rune claims as feud ignites over 'big lie'

Rising tennis star Holger Rune has admitted he needs to improve his "emotional control" following a disgruntled quarter-finals exit from Roland-Garros at the hands of eighth seed Casper Ruud.

The Danish teenager was defeated by Ruud 6-1 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 in a tense battle on Wednesday.

Throughout the match, Rune became enraged, repeatedly shouting at himself and the umpire, and seemingly berating his mother to clear out of his player's box.

The hostility between the players reached boiling point during a cold post-match encounter at the net, with Rune hurrying through the customary handshake. Ruud subsequently reacted with a disapproving shake of his head.

Casper Ruud and Holger Rune shake hands after their quarter final clash. (Getty)

But the antics reportedly did not end there.

Rune has since claimed that Ruud was "so unsportsmanlike during the match", continuously talking over the 19-year-old on court.

"I didn't want to give him a hug after the match. He got a high-five and then I just had to get away from him", Rune told Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet.

He also claimed that the Norwegian taunted him in the locker room afterwards.

"(Casper) just went straight up to me and shouted 'YES' right up in my face," he said.

"You can cheer on the court all you want and be happy. I do that myself when I win. But that's such bad style. Have some respect."

Ruud's father, who is also his coach, dismissed the locker room allegation as a "pure lie", while the seven-time ATP title winner himself said Rune needed to "grow up".

"I don't know Holger personally, but I have seen on TV that sometimes there can be a lot of drama," Ruud told Norwegian tabloid VG.

"He's young and new, so that's excusable, but when you're on a big stage, it might be time to grow up a bit."

Heavily criticised for his poor act of sportsmanship at the net, Rune appeared to address his behaviour in an Instagram post on Thursday.

"I have given my heart and my soul in every match in Paris," he wrote.

"I put a lot of passion in my work because that's how I am. I am proud of my development and I also see there are things yet to be better.

"My quarterfinal I didn't find my level and it's frustrating. Still I should be able to find a way to win and this requires more emotional control. I am aware of this and will improve.

"Let the development continue and let's focus on the positive."

Nonetheless, there is still debate over what went down in the locker room following the match.

"What (Holger) says is wrong," Ruud told Eurosport.

"What he says is really not what happened. We both were in the dressing room after the match, and it's obviously a huge dressing room. There are many players, so we were just in our own part of the room all the time.

"I took an ice bath, ate some pizza and listened to music before we went home. While Holger sat in his part of the dressing room.

"How he creates the story of me shouting 'YES' straight into his face is just a lie. It never happened. It's a big lie. It's disappointing that he creates lies about me.

"For me, it doesn't matter if he thinks I am a player who doesn't follow the fair play rules, that's not really what matters.

"That's his personal opinion, but to put out lies about me like this is not right. I really wish this is the last time he will do something like this."

This was the fourth time the two rivals have met, with the record standing 4-0 in favour of Ruud.

The world No.8 will next play 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic on Saturday for a place in the final.

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Laver Cup: Holger Rune makes his debut

Holger Rune will start at the Laver Cup for the first time in 2023. This was announced on Wednesday.

by tennisnet.com
last edit: Apr 26, 2023, 07:25 pm

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The Laver Cup, as Stefanos Tsitsipas explained after his premiere for Team Europe a few years ago, is a good opportunity to make friends with fellow players on the ATP tour. And if anyone urgently needs a friend in the tennis circus, then it's Holger Rune, the Dane with such a fantastic talent in terms of play. Stan Wawrinka and Botic van de Zandschulp are unable to take any vacations together for various reasons. Neither of them will be at the start of the Laver Cup 2023 in Vancouver. Holger Rune does.

With Rune, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev, the European selection, which Björn Borg will captain again this year, has already named three representatives, just as many as John McEnroe's Team World, which won the continental comparison for the first time last year in London could. Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz and Nick Kyrgios will compete for the world selection. Other prominent names will follow. The game will be played in Vancouver from September 22nd to 24th. In 2024 the Laver Cup will come to Germany for the first time - namely to Berlin.

Holger Rune's mother Aneke and sister Alma celebrate his rapid rise after Monte-Carlo Masters campaign

Holger Rune may have fallen short of lifting his second Masters 1000 title at the 2023 Monte-Carlo Masters, but his mother Aneke Rune and sister Alma Rune are more than impressed with his rapid rise on tour.

After lifting his maiden Masters 1000 trophy at the Paris Masters six months ago, Rune contested his second career Masters 1000 final at the Monte-Carlo Masters on Sunday, April 16. The 19-year-old snatched the opening set 7-5 and was leading in the decider 4-1, but Andrey Rublev fought back to level the score before earning a decisive break to seal the victory 5-7, 6-2, 7-5.

Rune later reflected on the bitter defeat on social media, stating that he gave his best to win the title. He also revealed his goal of lifting the trophy in the future.

“I gave it all I had today from my heart and for the principality of Monaco where I love to be @rolexmontecarlomasters I look forward to come back for the big trophy,” Rune said on Instagram.

The Dane further thanked his team and congratulated Rublev on his first Masters 1000 title.

“To my team, thank you for being there for me and Andrey man congrats on your first Masters win,” he said.

Rune, who will reach a career-high ranking of No. 7 on Monday, was ranked No. 79 at this time last year and had to contest the qualifiers at the Monte-Carlo Masters. His incredible rise over the past year was acknowledged by his mother Aneke and sister Alma after Sunday’s final.

“You do such and effort to achieve your goals. Your effort makes me very proud,” Aneke Rune wrote on his Instagram post.

“Crazy to go from qualifier to runner up in one year. Proud of you,” Alma Rune said.

Apart from winning his maiden Masters 1000 in Paris last year, Rune also clinched two other ATP titles - the BMW Open and the Stockholm Open. He featured in a further two finals - at the Sofia Open and the Swiss Indoors Basel - walking away with the runner-up trophy each time.

In my hands, potions and spells come to life. I harvest herbs and mushrooms, combining them with secret ingredients to create elixirs that heal and protect. The magic flows through me as I mix and stir, drawing upon the ancient knowledge passed down through generations of witches. But I am also a guardian. I protect the forest and all its inhabitants from those who seek to harm or exploit it. I enchant the trees to grow strong and tall, their branches intertwining like guardians, forming a barrier against those who enter with malicious intent. Yet, I am not an evil witch as tales may suggest. I am a healer, a protector, and a guide. Those who come seeking my wisdom find solace in my gentle voice and wise counsel. I only use my powers for good, never straying into the darker realms of magic. As the witch of the wood, I am bound to this place, eternally connected to its life force. The trees whisper their secrets to me, sharing their knowledge and ancient wisdom. I serve as a vessel, channeling the energy of the forest and tapping into its ancient power. Others may fear the unknown, but to me, the unknown is home. The woods are my sanctuary, my source of strength and magic. I am the witch of the wood, a guardian of nature, and a beacon of light in the darkness..

Reviews for "Ancient Wisdom: The Teachings of the Witch of the Wood"

1. Jake - 2 stars - I found "I be the witch of the woodd" to be quite disappointing. The plot was scattered and hard to follow, and the characters were underdeveloped. The writing style was also quite inconsistent, veering between overly poetic and downright confusing. Overall, the book failed to engage me and left me feeling unsatisfied.

2. Emily - 1 star - I don't understand the hype around "I be the witch of the woodd." The story had potential, but it was squandered by the lackluster execution. The writing was needlessly flowery and convoluted, making it difficult to stay engaged. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, and the plot felt disjointed. I struggled to find any redeeming qualities in this book.

3. Sarah - 2 stars - "I be the witch of the woodd" was a disappointment for me. The pacing was incredibly slow, and I found myself losing interest in the story. The characters were poorly developed, making it hard for me to connect with them or care about their fates. Additionally, the writing style was overly descriptive, bogging down the narrative and making it a chore to read. Overall, this book fell short of my expectations.

4. Michael - 1 star - I struggled to finish "I be the witch of the woodd." The writing was pretentious and self-indulgent, with long, meandering sentences that lacked clarity. The plot was convoluted and offered no satisfying resolution, leaving me frustrated and unsatisfied. The characters were unrelatable and flat, making it hard to invest in their stories. I would not recommend this book to others.

5. Lisa - 2 stars - "I be the witch of the woodd" left me feeling disappointed. The story had potential, but it was overshadowed by the author's overly poetic writing style. I found myself struggling to grasp what was happening due to the confusing and convoluted prose. The characters lacked depth and failed to elicit any emotional connection. Ultimately, this book did not live up to the hype for me, and I was left wanting more substance.

Embracing the Wild: The Witch of the Wood's Connection with Nature