Italian Open: Holger Rune sent an off-colour Novak Djokovic out of the Italian Open quarterfinal as the talented Dane beat the 5-time champ 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 in a rain-affected three-set battle. Djokovic, who was the defending champion, came into the match as the favourite but was taken down by the seventh seed. With this win, Rune improved his head-to-head record against the 22-time Grand Slam Champion 2-1 in his favour. Follow Italian Open 2023 LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
RUTHLESS RUNE 🤯@holgerrune2003 knocks 6-time Champion Novak Djokovic out of Rome! #IBI23 pic.twitter.com/8c74E8lIs0
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 17, 2023
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Rune outlasted Djokovic in three sets in last year’s Paris Masters final and the 20-year-old got off to the perfect start in search of another upset by breaking the world number one in the opening game of the match.
The seventh seed showcased his aggressive style and mixed up his game with some delicate drops to race ahead 4-1 as Djokovic looked uncomfortable in between points having admitted a day earlier that he was dealing with a physical issue.
Rune squandered a late breakpoint opportunity but the fast-fading Djokovic could not prevent him from closing out the first set as some sections of the crowd appeared to be in disbelief over the six-time champion’s struggles.
Italian Open: Rune lost his cool and the second set
Djokovic took a painkiller midway through the second set and the 35-year-old roared back to life a short while later to go up 5-2 following a break and a hold, as Rune completely lost his cool over a line call by the chair umpire.
Rune, who launched an expletive-laden rant while receiving treatment for a right leg problem, responded with a break of his own but went on to surrender the set following a lengthy break in play due to rain.
Ferocious hitting from both players marked the start of the decider but a dominant Rune pounced on Djokovic’s serve en route to a 4-0 lead and completed a famous win on his own delivery in a rare spell of sunshine.
Djokovic will relinquish the top ranking to Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz before the May 28-June 11 French Open, where the Serbian will look to claim a men’s record 23rd Grand Slam title having gone level with Rafa Nadal by winning the Australian Open.
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