Holger Rune upset six-time champion Novak Djokovic 6-2 4-6 6-2 in the quarter final at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome to clinch back-to-back wins at Masters 1000 level against the 22-time Grand Slam champion.
Rune had beaten Djokovic in the final of the Paris Bercy Rolex Masters last November.
It is the first time since 2004 that neither Djokovic nor Rafael Nadal will reach the final of the Rome Masters 1000 tournament.
Rune earned an early break in the first game with a backhand winner. The 20-year-old Danish player saved two break points to hold serve for 2-0. Djokovic held serve at love in the third game with a forehand winner. Rune opened up a 3-1 lead with a backand crosscourt winner.
Rune broke serve for the second time to open up a 4-1 lead, as Djokovic made a forehand error in the fifth game. Djokovic fended off a set point on serve in the seventh game. Rune closed out the first set 6-2 with a service winner in 38 minutes.
Djokovic broke serve for the first time in the match from 40-15 down in the sixth game to open up a 5-2. Djokovic made a forehand error to lose his serve, as he was serving for the set at 5-3. Djokovic won the first two points on return in the 10thgame before the match was suspended by rain. As the match resumed one hour later, Djokovic broke serve at love with a forehand winner to close out the second set 6-4 forcing the match to the decider.
Rune started the third set with a break in the first game. The Dane went up a 3-0 lead with a double break in the third game and held serve in the fourth game at deuce to race out to a 4-0 lead. Djokovic cut the deficit with a service winner in the fifth game.
Djokovic earned a break point in the final game, but Rune saved it with a forced error and earned a match point with a service winner. The Danish player closed out the match when Djokovic hit a forehand long.
Rune set up a semifinal match against either Francisco Cerundolo or Casper Ruud.
“It’s really a big win for me. Obviously I did it last year in Paris as well, but every match is a huge challenge for me when I play against Novak. He is one of the greatest that’s ever played the game. I knew I had to be at my best and I said it yesterday, and I was today. I am super proud of myself and I enjoyed every moment out there”, said Rune.
