By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, May 17, 2023

A daring Holger Rune relishes his position as king conqueror.

Delivering Masters deja vu, the 20-year-old Rune dethroned defending champion Novak Djokovic 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 to achieve the Rome semifinals in his event debut.

More: Rune Dethrones Defending Champion Djokovic in Rome

It's the second time within the final six Masters 1000 occasions that Rune ended six-time champion Djokovic's reign.

Last November, Rune rallied from a break down within the decisive set and fought off six break factors within the fierce remaining sport to dethrone defending champion Djokovic 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 and seize his maiden Masters championship in a pulsating Paris Masters remaining thriller.

After stopping six-time Rome champion Djokovic at the moment, Rune reiterated his main mission assertion: Win a maiden main this season.

"I want to win a Grand Slam this year," Rune advised the media in Rome. "That's what I've said in the past, and I stick to that. Obviously I hope it can be achieved at the French Open.

"If not, I hope to make it within the different two Grand Slams. First we begin with one, then we see."

The seventh-ranked Rune will face either fourth-seeded Casper Ruud or 24th-seeded Francisco Cerundolo for a spot in the Rome final.

World No. 1 Djokovic, who says Rune reminds him of himself, cited talented 20-year-olds Carlos Alcaraz and Rune as Roland Garros top contenders—if 14-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal can't play Paris.

"But subsequent to [Nadal] after all Alcaraz, Rune, these guys are proper there within the rivalry, a few of the greatest favorites to win the title," said Djokovic, who will play for a men's record 23rd major championship in Paris this month.

Dreaming of a Grand Slam breakthrough, Rune, who exchanged words with Stan Wawrinka during a terse Indian Wells handshake in March, has shown he isn't scared to stand up to major champions. 

Rune rejects the label he's tennis' latest "dangerous boy" saying he plays with passion and purpose rather to be a chaos competitor.

"I do not see myself because the dangerous boy in any respect," Rune said. "I imply, I play with quite a lot of ardour and vitality when I'm on the courtroom. I believe many gamers does that.

"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 racquets and stuff like this. If I remember well, I don't break a racquet when I play. I don't see myself like that."

Photo credit score: Matthew Calvis

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