“It was a higher level match than Paris” – Rune taking positives from Djokovic loss
Despite losing to Novak Djokovic for the second time in 10 days, Holger Rune is optimistic about his level of tennis at the ATP Finals this week
Zuma / Panoramic
For the second time in 10 days, Holger Rune lost to Novak Djokovic in a deciding set, this time falling 7-6 (4), 6-7 (1), 6-3 to the world No 1 on day one of the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, Italy.
With the rivalry between 20-year-old Rune and 36-year-old Djokovic already shaping up to be one of the classic head to heads on the ATP Tour, the Dane has shared that he’s taking plenty of positives from the match.
“Another great battle against Novak,” declared Rune in his post-match press conference in Turin, who has shown promising signs of rekindling his best tennis after hiring Boris Becker as head coach last month. “It was a higher level match than Paris.”
Rune rues missed chances, no complaints physically
In a match of small margins, Rune has bemoaned his failure to capitalise on some chances Djokovic presented him earlier in the match.
“I think I had chances to go up 3-0 in the second set. I didn’t do it. He managed to come back. It was a tight set.”
While Rune still managed to win the second, the effort expelled to do so clearly took its toll, as the Dane quickly fell away in the deciding set, losing 6-3. Despite the drop off, Rune has assured fans that he’s feeling fine physically, and was ready to play longer if need be.
“I think physically I felt okay. Of course, I feel it. We played three hours. But I’m sure he also felt it a little bit. I was ready, if I had the chance, from 5-3 to 5-4 to keep going, but that didn’t happen.
“I tried to manage my energy as good as possible during the match, not use too many, like, energy, unnecessary energy, and stay calm and play the tennis that I like to play.”
Rune v Djokovic: Stylist clashes, or mirror image?
Following Djokovic’s win over Rune, the Serbian declared that playing the Dane is like competing against a mirror, because of how similar their styles are.
When asked if he agrees with this sentiment, Rune was less willing to draw parallels with the world No 1, despite being flattered by the notion.
“I mean, of course, I take the compliment that he’s saying we play similar. I don’t think so, but that’s my opinion. It’s good to be comparing with him. He’s one of the greatest that we ever had in the game.”
Rune went on to explain that he saw the match differently, with a “battle of which terms [the match] was going to be played on” unfolding between himself and Djokovic. The 20-year-old admitted that Djokovic “won that battle”.
“It was small key things to stay focused on my serve,” Rune explained. “My first serve is very important against Novak because if you don’t put the first serve, you have a little bit of pressure because he returns so well.”
“So, yeah, was small things to remind me on my identity of my game, to play on my terms, even though it’s difficult against Novak because he try to play on his terms.”
The pair now have a head-to-head record of 3-2, with Djokovic edging ahead after winning the past two encounters. Chances are, we’ll see many more brilliant clashes between these two over the coming years, as Rune has solidified himself as a regular fixture in the top 10 now after a breakthrough year in 2022.
