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Surprise in Paris: Rune snatched the title from Djokovic

Surprise in Paris: Rune snatched the title from Djokovic

At 19 years old, Runes He was playing his fourth consecutive final in as many tournaments, winning in Stockholm and remaining runner-up in Sofia and Basel.

In Paris he has achieved the greatest success of his still short career as it was his first title in the Masters 1000 category.

On Monday, Rune will be the first Danish tennis player to break into the ‘Top 10’ since the creation of the ATP in 1973. He will go up to 10th place.

Runes he also becomes the first player since the inception of the ATP to beat five Top-10 players in the same tournament (outside of the year-end Masters).

“You fully deserve this victory”recognized him at the end of the game Djokovic. “What an amazing week, I’m not happy you beat me, but I’m happy for you!”he added.

A Djokovic imperial at the beginning took the first set with a solvency that made fear a final lacking in emotion.

But he was unable to make any of the three consecutive break balls that were sought at the beginning of the second set, and this made the set swing in favor of Rune.

The Danish put the batteries and did not forgive his first break ball in the match. He kept his advantage until the end and took the match to a deciding third set.

Djokovic He seemed to have taken a giant step in that third round when he got 3-1, but he did not know how to close the clash and let his rival catch up (3-3).

The two players were up 5-5 when Rune broke ‘Nole’ to dominate 6-5 and serve to win the final.

Although tired, he managed to save six break points from Djokovic and prevailed on his second match point.

“It is quite incredible. It is an extraordinary feeling to be here with the trophy. It was difficult to imagine this at the beginning of the week when I had three match points against (against Wawrinka in the first round) (…) It is a first dream that comes true, although I have bigger dreams”confessed Rune, born six days before world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz.

Just one fact to illustrate this intergenerational duel: Rune was born the year Djokovic turned professional, in 2003.

The last game, endless and unbreathable, allowed Rune, still beardless, to show what size he is made of.

“Winning that last game was the biggest relief of my life”he confessed.

Advised for a few weeks by Patrick Mouratoglou, ‘Holgy’ lived a dream week in Paris. Since his win against Wawrinka, he has eliminated five top-10 players in five days: Hubert Hurkacz, Andrey Rublev, Alcaraz (who left injured), Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Djokovic.

This crazy week allows him to become the first substitute for the season-ending Masters in Turin (November 13-20).

For the Serbian, this defeat marks the end of a series: he had not lost on the circuit – when he was able to play – since Roland Garros and his semifinal with Nadal.

However, he is still the main favorite of the Turin Masters. Although he will have to watch over the new generation.

Source: Ambito

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