Victorious Rune on beating Djokovic for Paris Masters title: “It’s probably the best feeling of my career”

The Danish teenager is now first alternate for the ATP Finals and if gets the chance to play, says he will be ready

AI/Reuters/Panoramic

November 6, 2022

Danish teenager Holger Rune said beating Novak Djokovic in the final of the Paris Masters on Sunday – a match in which he held his nerve superbly in a tense final game – was “probably the best feeling of my life”.

The 19-year-old completed a dream week as he beat Djokovic 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 on Sunday to win his first Masters 1000 title, pick up his third title of the year and become the first man ever to beat five top-eight players in the same event.

✅ First-ever Masters 1000 title
✅ Rise into the ATP Top 10

A breakthrough week for @holgerrune2003 at the #RolexParisMasters! pic.twitter.com/Q9EdArdZDq
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 6, 2022

It was a brilliant effort from Rune, who began the year ranked No 103 before charging into the world’s top 10 for the first time on the back of three superb weeks, winning the title in Stockholm, reaching the final in Basel and then winning in Paris, beating one of the all-time greats in the process.

“It’s probably the best feeling of my life, of my whole career,” Rune said. “It’s kind of a small dream come true, even though I have bigger dreams.

“It’s a really good step on the way to be able to play these kind of matches against one of the greatest players like Novak. You know, to be able to win that last game was the biggest relief of my life. My stress level was very high, so, you know, super happy to come through.”

The last game alone lost more than 16 minutes as Djokovic had six chances to break back, after Rune, from a break down early on in the third set, broke again to lead 6-5.

And the Dane said the entire week was even more incredible given his first-round match, when he saved three match points to beat Stan Wawrinka.

“It’s quite incredible,” Rune said. “To stand here with the trophy, it’s an amazing feeling. Something that was tough to expect, you know, starting the week off having three match points down. Then now to be able to be here with this beautiful trophy is absolutely amazing feeling.”

Rune unsure about Milan, excited about Turin

Rune is qualified for next week’s Next Gen Finals, for the best 21-and-under players, but as first alternate for the ATP Finals, he is not sure if he will play in Milan as well as go to Turin.

“I don’t know (if he will play in Milan),” he said. “Of course I’m going to go to Turin. I’m one out. I mean, I wish (for) all the players that I’m not going to play, because I wish them to be healthy, but at the same time it would be awesome if I got to play.

“I didn’t expect that at all four or five weeks ago but now I’m here. I’m super happy how I officially ended my season, and if there possibly is more matches, I’m just super excited for it. Right now I just can’t wait to get some sleep, get some food, just relax totally.”