The first-ever meeting between Novak Djokovic and Holger Rune came in the first round of the 2021 U.S. Open. A final, however, is more along the lines of where you would expect them to go head-to-head if they continue to meet in the future.
That is exactly where they will find themselves on Sunday afternoon at the Rolex Paris Masters, and for Rune it is a fourth consecutive ATP title match. The 19-year-old Dane stormed into the last Masters 1000 event of the season on the heels of runner-up performances in Sofia and Basel to go along with a title in Stockholm. He is now 18-2 in his last 20 matches following victories this week over Stan Wawrinka, Hubert Hurkacz, Andrey Rublev, Carlos Alcaraz, and Felix Auger-Aliassime. Prior to Saturday, Auger-Aliassime had won three tournaments in a row–including a defeat of Rune in the Basel championship match.
For Djokovic, this marks a record 56th Masters 1000 final appearance. The 21-time Grand Slam champ booked his spot in it by defeating Maxime Cressy, Karen Khachanov, Lorenzo Musetti, and Stefanos Tsitsipas. Djokovic did not drop a set in any of his first three matches but needed a third-set tiebreaker to outlast Tsitsipas on Saturday.
Now it will be another clash of generations on Sunday, with 16 years separating the two competitors. The first one went Djokovic’s way, but Rune accounted himself well for a while in Flushing Meadows and even took the second set off the Serb before wearing down the rest of the way.
Rune is a much better and much physically fitter player 15 months later, but that may not make it any easier to beat Djokovic. The world No. 7 is well rested at the end of a somewhat abbreviated campaign and a title would be his third in succession this fall following recent triumphs in Tel Aviv and Astana. It is also worth noting that Djokovic is 45-8 lifetime in Paris (13-0 in his last 13 matches) with six titles.
As well as Rune is playing, it’s almost impossible to bet against Djokovic on this stage.
Pick: Djokovic in 2
WWW?
Glad I didn’t take the 1.20 for Djokovic against Tsitsipas. Even though he got over the line, that would’ve been a really bad bet.
Djokovic would have to win a match like that 5 times out of every 6 just to break even.
I was happy that Djoker beat Tsitsi since the latter could have taken the #2 ranking with a title in Paris. But it seems Rafa’s going to be the #1 seed at the WTF with Alcaraz out of action for a few weeks? Ironic, that, since Rafa is among the least likely to win the thing. But if he’s healthy enough I’ll get to see him play at least three matches. Wouldn’t be surprised if he loses all of them!
Don’t know who will win the Paris final and don’t really care. Don’t like either of the finalists. Rune seems to be a major jerk. I think he’ll get a much-needed schooling from the Djoker though. Djoker does have the best ROS and is playing very solid tennis.
A major jerk? What a dumbass
Nope, that wasn’t me either. Sore losers with an attention deficit disorder. You’re lucky I even come in here occasionally to post.
Djoko should win this, no matter how poorly he may play, because he’s far too experienced a player for the first time Masters finalist ie Rune to handle.
Watching FAA, Alcaraz and Rune, they may be the Fed, Rafa and Djoko of the future. I think Meddy’s batch of players may be overtaken by the Alcaraz batch soon, with only Meddy winning one slam in that age group!
As for YE no.1, the trio of Alcaraz, Rafa and Tsitsipas all have a chance to be the YE no.1.
Tsitsipas has to win the WTF without losing a match and Rafa has to lose all his RR matches if Tsitsipas were to become YE no.1
For Rafa, he has to win at least 1000 points at the WTF, ie at least reaches the final without losing a RR match, to be on equal points with Alcaraz. But, Rafa having won two slams compared to Alcaraz winning one slam, I think if I’m not wrong, the rule is such that whoever does better at the slams will be ahead in the rankings.
In any other scenario (except that Rafa wins the WTF title) , Alcaraz will finish the season as YE no.1.
Correction, Tsitsipas has to win all his matches including the final of WTF and Rafa must not win > 1000 points, for Tsitsipas to become YE no.1.
For Rafa to be YE no.1, he has to win at least 1000 points and Tsitsipas must not win all his matches.
All this talk on rankings and who wins Turin is of little interest overall except to brighten up the dull days of the end of season. Take a break , and wait for the new year.
I understand; you don’t like it when you’re not the one getting attention. It must be miserable never getting noticed.
Not dull, when we may see a 19 yo ending the season as no.1!
I hope Tsitsipas doesn’t become the slamless no.1 though!
As for Rafa, slim chance given how he played at Paris Masters.
Anyway, Djoko winning at Paris may well prepare him for doing well at WTF and pave the way for him to get back to number one come the new season.
Djokovic is in trouble. The age factor and Rune’s tenaciousness. Tsitsipas was a tough match to back up from for a 35-36 yr old.
Rune wasnt the #1 junior in the world for nothing.
How’s your 1.20 bet going?
Evil doesn’t pay – wake up and smell the coffee idiots.
Youre witnessing the future World number 1. Lets go Rune!
I can’t cheer Rune winning. I agree completely with Ramara’s description of him.
What is it with Novak being up a set and having multiple points to break early in the second and missing bread and butter shots?!
Also, I watched the match off and on but where was Novak’s bhdtl?! That shot is a barometer of his confidence in the same way that Rafa’s fhdtl is. I thought he got tense at many crucial moments.
Oh god another hater. What do you agree on? Do you know the kid? His description was actually pretty off. He completely left out mentality of a true winner. But there will always be haters. Cheers
He’s 19 yrs old give him a break. Up against the best players in the world and beating them
It’s very possible to be both an excellent tennis player AND a total jerk. Nastase, Connors, J McEnroe, for openers. On the other hand it’s certainly not necessary to be a dickhead to be a great player.
Its also very possible to be poetic and an idiot
Nole fans praise Alcarez, Nadal fans follow Rune
This Novak tennis fan is quite capable of being a Holger Rune fan! Novak did not have the legs to win it today, and Holger Rune out-played Novak. Novak was classy in defeat. I can appreciate both of them! Holger has been on fire, and it’s good to see a young gun coming up like that.
Rune has beaten five top ten players to win his first Masters title! Wow, it’s as if he’s at the WTF, having to beat five top ten players to win the title!
I think his game is more interesting than Alcaraz’s, he throws in more varieties and moves to the net often to control the points; Alcaraz prefers to control from the baseline, throwing in drop shots cleverly.
I think they’ll form a good rivalry in the future, just like what Rafa and Djoko have done.
👍😊 To Luckystar!
Rune is too young for me to make a comment about his personality .
Not a good week for the Spaniards, thanks to Tommy Paul .
What I liked about this week was that it was a fast low bouncing court indoors, old school.