Obviously not in his mood, world No.1 Novak Djokovic nevertheless reached the quarter-finals of the Masters 1000 in Paris on Thursday where he will meet Holger Rune for a remake of the 2022 final.
Holger Rune, holder of the trophy and world No.7, will challenge world No.1 Novak Djokovic on Friday in the quarter-finals of the Masters 1000 in Paris, in a remake of the 2022 final won by the young Dane. Not in great shape since the American summer, Rune is firmly holding his place in the Parisian room for the moment: in the round of 16 on Thursday evening, he easily dismissed the German Daniel Altmaier (54th) with a double 6-3 in 1h20 min.
Djokovic clearly not in his mood
Having been ill for a few days, Djokovic struggled to get rid of the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor (23rd) 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 in more than two and a half hours. “I’m so impatient,” smiles Rune, now accompanied by Boris Becker. “I always look at the table (before a tournament), what can happen. I had two very good (first) matches, I feel better and better on the court and I am ready for this big challenge.”
A year ago, Rune signed a series of five consecutive victories against top 10 players, including Djokovic in the final, to win his first Masters 1000 trophy. “I had played the best tennis of my life “, remembers the young Dane.
Rune (20 years old) is still chasing a qualification for the Masters which will bring together the eight best players of the season in mid-November in Turin (Italy). He currently occupies the last qualifying place, ahead of Hubert Hurkacz, also in the quarter-finals in Paris.