Holger enjoys first Masters title and rise to the Top 10

Holger Rune’s rapid rise reached a new milestone at the Paris Masters, where the 19-year-old staged an epic comeback to defeat Novak Djokovic 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 for his first ATP 1000 crown. .

After dropping the first set, the Dane rallied from 0-40 in the opening game and a 1-3 deficit in the third, saving six break points in the final game as he strove to defeat Djokovic and claim the title. the biggest title of his young career in dramatic fashion.

Rune played his fourth consecutive ATP final and has now won 19 of his last 21 matches. The Dane’s title race in Paris will also lift him to 10th in the rankings, the highest of his career.

“I feel great to be honest, it’s the best feeling. If you told me four weeks ago, I’d be in the Top 10, I’d say ‘What, I’m sorry?’ Now I’m here and I’m super proud”, said the Dane.

The win against Djokovic marked Rune’s fifth against Top 10 opponents. In Paris to reach his first Masters final he beat Hubert Hurkacz, Andrey Rublev, Carlos Alcaraz and Felix Auger-Aliassime.

“It was the most stressful game of my life. My heart was almost in my brain. I was already starting to think about the tiebreaker. I’m so proud to be able to finish it.”

It is the first time Djokovic has lost in 31 Masters 1000 finals when he won the first set. While Rune’s all-around game has excelled in his recent career, his ability to compete against the Serb’s renowned backhand was key to his remarkable late comeback. The Dane hit 17 winners on that wing to Djokovic’s six in his two-hour, 33-minute win.

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