The 2003 generation is now visible in all its glory. Led by the world number one and US Open champion Carlos Alcarazhis childhood friend and rival, the Dane Holger Rune19 years and six days older than him, is also embedded in the elite with full honor.
He defeated Novak Djokovic, undefeated in the previous thirteen meetings, by 3-6, 6-3 and 7-5 in 2h.32′ of spectacular and dramatic tennis. The Scandinavian’s response was heroic to topple the six-time Masters 1000 champion ATP Paris-Bercy, to a legend of this sport. He controlled his rookie nerves in such a high-level final, recovered in the second set and took the third set where he lost 1-3. And as a finale, he saved six breaking balls from the Serbian in a crazy final game of more than a quarter of an hour that he decided on his second choice of the match.
“Holger, Holger,” he gasped. Accor-Arenathat helped him to react at the worst moment and persevere so that his quality and courage were rewarded with a prestigious trophy, the third of his career after Munich and Stockholm, 1,000 ranking points to move up from 18th to 10th place, which means the first reserve spot in the ATP Finals, and a check for 836,355 euros. Rune entered the top-100 in January. Quarterfinalist at Roland Garros, his first warning, provided acceleration on this last part of the course.
There hasn’t been such a young champion at Paris-Bercy since the German Boris Becker the best was 18 in 1986. No one, since the birth of the ATP in 1973, has eliminated five top 10 players in the same week. He started it by raising three match points to Stan Wawrinka (“Stop behaving like a baby,” the Swiss told him online) and began the streak of tops: Hubert Hurkacz (10), Andrey Rublev (9), Carlos Alcaraz (1), Felix Auger-Aliassime (8) and Novak Djokovic (7).
Rune has won 19 of his last 21 matches. Nerves betrayed him in a comfortable first set for Djokovic, who was in control until he took advantage of a 0-40 lead to start the second with a break up. He poured life into the rival and went into a mini-crisis that cost him going to the third set. Again Balkan recovered for 3-1. But the Dane is no longer suffering, he is having fun, and he continues to bite until he collects one of the most important victims in tennis.
The Danish game is very good, direct shots, aggressive. Bold, inventive. A constant headache for Djokovic has once shown the same level that has punished previous opponents.
Djokovic, who won Wimbledon, Tel Aviv and Astana, is suffering a setback at the gates of the ATP Finals in Turin, where for now Rune only has a place as a direct observer. If there is a second loss, after Alcaraz, he will enter.
The youthful impulse was able to overcome the experience of an eight-time finalist in Paris (she lost to Karen Khachanov in 2018), chasing the 91st title, a 39th Masters 1000. The youngest has class and courage.
‘Nole’ didn’t take advantage of many of his chances, making just 2 of 12 break balls, as he beat the three he faced. He was treated for a strain on his left leg after the fifth game of the third set. Massages to release.
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
