ROME — Novak Djokovic sees a little bit of himself in Holger Rune.
The 20-year-old Danish participant is strong in almost each space: An incredible mover and tremendous match bodily, he’s sturdy off each his forehand and backhand, has good arms and is an aggressive returner.
Perhaps that’s why Rune has now recorded two victories over Djokovic in little greater than six months, beating the 22-time Grand Slam champion 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 Wednesday to achieve the Italian Open semifinals.
Rune, who additionally defeated Djokovic within the Paris Masters remaining in November, gave the Serb matches together with his speedy courtroom protection. He made his opponent hit additional balls on factors that Djokovic thought he had already completed off.
Djokovic mentioned the persistently damp situations on the Foro Italico this week have been difficult for him.
“In these kind of conditions, it’s very difficult to get the ball past him,” Djokovic mentioned. “He’s very, very quick, very fast. Great anticipation. Just a really gifted, dynamic participant, all-around participant.
PHOTOS: Holger Rune beats Novak Djokovic once more to achieve Italian Open semifinals
“He was just better. He played too good for me for most part of the match,” Djokovic mentioned. “He kept his nerves and deserved to win.”
Unlike the win in Paris, which was a breakthrough second for Rune, this one felt like a affirmation.
“If it’s working against Novak, it works against almost anybody,” Rune mentioned of his efficiency.
The 35-year-old Djokovic didn’t seem at his finest bodily early on and known as for a coach after holding for a 2-1 lead within the second set. It wasn’t instantly clear what the difficulty was nevertheless it appeared that Djokovic swallowed a capsule that the coach gave him.
Djokovic lately returned after three weeks off due to a lingering difficulty together with his surgically repaired proper elbow. He’s getting ready for the French Open, which begins in 11 days.
“I know I can always play better,” Djokovic mentioned. “I always like my chances in Grand Slams against anybody on any surface, best-of-five.”
Rune, in the meantime, is boosting his credentials as a Grand Slam contender after a strong season on clay that included a runner-up end within the Monte Carlo Masters, a title in Munich, and now a semifinal spot in his first important draw look in Rome.
“I want to win a Grand Slam this year,” Rune mentioned. “I hope it can be achieved at the French Open. If not, I hope to make it in the other two Grand Slams.”
Djokovic stormed out to a 5-2 lead within the second however Rune rallied again, successful a 34-shot rally with a elegant backhand drop-shot winner to arrange a late break.
Rune additionally known as for a coach late within the second set to have his proper leg handled. The match was then suspended due to rain with Rune serving to remain within the set at 4-5, 0-30.
After a suspension of greater than an hour, Djokovic gained two straight factors to interrupt Rune’s serve and take the second set. But Rune then broke Djokovic’s serve twice early within the third.
Djokovic dedicated 35 unforced errors to Rune’s 15, with 22 of these approaching his forehand.
Djokovic has gained the Italian Open six occasions, together with final yr, and failed to achieve the ultimate solely as soon as in eight earlier editions – when he was overwhelmed by Rafael Nadal within the semifinals in 2018.
Nadal, who holds the report of 10 titles in Rome, isn’t taking part in as he stays hampered by a nagging hip harm, leaving his standing for Roland Garros in query.
With Djokovic eradicated, an 18-year streak of both him or Nadal taking part in within the Rome remaining ends.
Djokovic can even lose the No. 1 rating to Carlos Alcaraz, one other 20-year-old participant, subsequent week – though Alcaraz was overwhelmed by One hundred and thirty fifth-ranked Hungarian qualifier Fabian Marozsan within the third spherical on Monday.
Rune’s semifinal opponent will likely be both Casper Ruud or Francisco Cerundolo, who have been scheduled to play later.
In the ladies’s match, Jelena Ostapenko beat Paula Badosa 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 to achieve her first semifinal on clay since successful the 2017 French Open. Ostapenko was then going again out on courtroom to play within the doubles quarterfinals with accomplice Lyudmyla Kichenok.
In one other quarterfinal, two-time defending champion Iga Swiatek was up in opposition to Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.
Rune bought right into a heated change with the chair umpire a couple of disputed name throughout the second set. When the umpire refused to alter the decision regardless of Rune saying that the mark on the clay confirmed that Djokovic’s shot was out, he misplaced his cool.
“Do you get punished when you make mistakes? You don’t. So please respect the player,” Rune mentioned to the umpire, Mohamed Lahyani. “It’s an absolute joke.”
As Rune’s coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, motioned from the stands for his participant to relax, Rune then mentioned to no person particularly, “It’s always the umpire who makes me look like the bad guy.”
Afterward, when Rune was requested concerning the dispute, he mentioned: “Apparently I was right because I saw the Hawk-Eye after the match and it was out.”
He additionally took difficulty when he was requested about his repute as the sport’s “bad boy.”
“I don’t see myself as the bad boy at all,” he mentioned. “I play with a lot of passion and energy when I’m on the court. … I don’t know why that should be a bad boy thing, to play with energy on the court. A bad boy thing is to break rackets and stuff like this. If I remember well, I don’t break a racket when I play.”
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