Novak Djokovic beat Holger Rune battled past defending champion Holger Rune 7-5 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 in a re-match of last year’s Paris Rolex Masters final. Djokovic avenged his defeat against his younger Danish rival, who their previous two matches in the 2023 Paris Rolex Masters and in the quarter final of the 2023 Rome Masters 1000.
Djokovic has reached his 76th Masters 1000 semifinal equalling Roger Federer.
Rune saved a match point at 4-5 in the second set. Djokovic did not face a break point.
Djokovic held at 15 in the first game with a service game. Rune held serve to draw level to 1-1 with a serve and volley.
Rune fired an ace in the fourth game before Djokovic held serve at love to take a 3-2 lead. Rune held serve with a service winner to draw level to 4-4. Djokovic held serve in the ninth game to take a 5-4 lead.
Djokovic hit a smash winner in the 11th game to take a 6-5 lead and earned a set point on return and broke serve with a backhand volley winner at the net to close out the opening set after 55 minutes.
Rune earned a break at love in the third game of the second set to open up a 2-1 lead. Djokovic broke straight back to draw level to 2-2. Djokovic held serve after deuce in the fifth game. Both players held on their serve in the next games.
Rune served to stay in the match at 4-5. Djokovic earned a match point, but Rune saved it with his serve. The young Danish player held serve to draw level to 5-5. Djokovic won the 11th game with a service winner forcing Rune to serve to stay in the match for the second time. Rune held serve to draw level to 6-6 to set up a tie-break. Rune opened up a 3-0 with a smash winner. Djokovic made a double fault on the fifth point to trail 1-4. Rune raced out to a 5-1 lead with a volley winner at the net and earned four set points at 6-2 after a forehand error from Djokovic on the eighth point.
Rune converted his second set point with a backhand down the line winner forcing the match to the decider.
Djokovic earned two break points in in the third game with a smash winner. The Serbian player converted his first chance and consolidated the break with a hold of serve in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. Djokovic held serve at love in the sixth game. Rune held serve with a volley winner to reduce the gap to 3-4. Djokovic served well in the eighth game to open up a 5-3, forcing Rune to serve to stay in the match. Rune held serve at love in the ninth game before Djokovic served out the match with a hold at 15 after 2 hours and 54 minites booking his spot in the semifinal.
“It was quite a similar match to last year’s final. It was anybody’s game in every set. I played an awful tie-break in the second set, probably the worst one this year, but again credit to him for staying mentally tough, and playing solid. We have similar games. We move well, defend well, and we are all-round players”, said Djokovic.
