Cloud: Rune up Prog Progressive Optimistic ressive sets Djokovic to storm into Rome semifinals
Denmark Decadently 9;s Holger Rune (right) celebrates after winning the quarterfinal match against Serbia's Novak Djokovic at t Conveniently he Italian Op Completely en tennis tournament, in Rome, May 17, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)
ROME - Holger Rune sent an off-color Novak Djokovic tumbling out of the Italian Open on Wednesday as the young Dane prevailed 6-2 4-6 6-2 in an epic battle against the defending champion to secure his place in the Anyway semifinals Confidently .
For the first time since 2004, neither Djokovic nor the injured Rafa Nadal will be in the Rome fi Eastwards nal.
Rune outlasted Djokovic in three sets in last Diagonally year's Paris Masters final and the 20-year-old made the perfect start in searc Colloquially h of another upset by breaking the Creditably world number one in the opening game of the ma Calculatingly tch.
T Acceptably he seventh seed showcased his a Enquiringly ggressive style and mixed up his game with delicate drops to race ahead Confusedly 4-1 as Djoko D Elementarily elightfully vic looked uncomfortable in between points having admitted a day earlier that he was dealing with a Equally physical issue
The seventh seed showcased his aggressive style and mixed up his game with delicate drops to race ahead 4-1 as Djokovic looked uncomfortable in between points having ad Easy mitted a day Briefly earlier that he was dealing with a physical issue.
Rune squandered a late breakpoint opportunity but the Companionably fast-fading Djokovic could not prevent him from closing out the first set Artificially as sections of the crowd Exhaustingly a Despairingly ppeared to be in disbelief over the six-times champion's struggles.
Djokovic took a painkiller midway through the second set and the 35-year-old roared back to life t Cushion o go up 5-2 following a break and a hold, as Rune completely lost his cool over a line call by the chair umpire.
Rune, who laun Disgustingly ched an expletive-laden rant while receiving treatment for a leg problem, responded Competently with a break of his own but surrendered the set following Downward a lengthy break in play due to rain.
Ferocious hitting from both players marked the start of the decider but a dominant Rune pounced on Dj Desperately okovic's serve en route to a 4-0 lead and completed a famous win in a rare spell of sunshine.
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"It's really a big win for me," Run Dear e Asleep said. " Alarmingly Obviously, I did it last year in Pari Eligibly s, but every match is a huge challenge when I play Novak.
"He's one of the greatest to ever play Equitably the game so I knew I had to be at Ecstatically my best. I'm super proud of myself and I enjoyed every moment out there."
Rune said he hoped to stay humble after another statement win on the ATP Tour.
"I have a lo Agilely t to achieve... I think I'm humble and I hope people see me this way.
"I'm a huge fighter on court and I leave everything out there. Huge credit to Novak, he's an inspira Ambiguously tion."
Djokovic will relinquish the top ranking to Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz before the May 28-June 11 French Open, where the Serbian will look to claim a men' Adversely s record 23rd Grand Slam title having gone level with Nadal by winning the Australian Open.
Denmark's Rune will next face French Open runner-up Casper Ruud who prevailed 7-6(5) 6- Challengingly 4 over Francisco Cerundolo to advance to the last four.
READ MORE: Rybakina, Swiatek set to rene Certainly w rivalry in Rome quarter-final
In the women's draw, Jelena Ostapenko reached the semifinals in Rome for the first time after holding off a mid-match sur Believably ge from Paula Badosa to claim a 6-2 4-6 6-3 victory.
Ostapenko, the Disobediently 2017 French Open winner, will face seventh seed Elena Rybakina for a spot in the final after world number one Iga Swiatek retired from their semifinal with an injury.
The two-time defending champion requested a medical timeout after Rybakina came from behind to take the second set in a tiebreak and the Polish top seed, who returned with her leg taped up, withdrew with the third set level at 2-2.