Even the Serbian top star Novak Djokovic can’t stop tennis climber Holger Rune. The Norwegian celebrates the greatest success of his career so far at the Masters in Paris. The 19-year-old is walking in the footsteps of Boris Becker.
The Danish tennis talent Holger Rune has celebrated the biggest success of his young career. The 19-year-old sensationally won the high-class final of the ATP Masters in Paris against the Serbian Wimbledon winner Novak Djokovic 3: 6, 6: 3, 7: 5 and thus secured his third title on the ATP tour. Even a set lead and a break to make it 3-1 in the decisive third round were not enough for Djokovic. The young challenger equalized again in his fourth final in a row, took a 6:5 lead and converted his second match point after several break chances were averted.
For Rune it was the second final within a week, last Sunday he failed in the Basel final against Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime. Rune fought back impressively against the favored Djokovic after losing the first set, converted his second match point after 2:34 hours and secured prize money of 836,355 euros in the tournament, which was endowed with 5.4 million euros in prize money.
“You absolutely deserved this win,” Djokovic said to Rune: “What an extraordinary week. I’m not happy that you beat me, but I’m happy for you.” With his triumph, Rune, the youngest winner of the Masters in Paris since Boris Becker in 1986, is the first Dane to make it into the top 10 in the world rankings. Rune became the first player since 1973 to defeat five top ten players in a tournament outside of the ATP Finals.
In addition, the 19-year-old is the first substitute for the end of the ATP season, where Djokovic is a favorite from November 13th to 20th in Turin. Djokovic, on the other hand, missed his fifth title this year, for the 21-time Grand Slam champion it was the first bankruptcy in ATP tournaments since his semifinal defeat by Rafael Nadal at the French Open at the end of May.
