tennis
First Masters title: Djokovic also stopped by Rune
Winner in Paris: Holger Rune. photo
© Thibault Camus/AP/dpa
Serbian top star Novak Djokovic was also unable to stop tennis promoter Holger Rune and missed his seventh Masters title in Paris.
Serbian top star Novak Djokovic was also unable to stop tennis promoter Holger Rune and missed his seventh Masters title in Paris.
The 21-time Grand Slam tournament winner had to admit defeat to the only 19-year-old Dane 6: 3, 3: 6, 5: 7 in an exciting final on Sunday. In his first Masters final, Rune celebrated his first title in this highest category after the Grand Slam tournaments and thus the greatest success of his career to date.
The high-flyer became the youngest Paris winner since Boris Becker, who was 18 at the time, in 1986. As the first player since 1973, Rune – apart from the ATP Finals – also defeated five top ten players in a tournament.
A set lead and a break to make it 3-1 in the decisive third round were not enough for the former world number one Djokovic. The young challenger equalized again in his fourth final in a row, took a 6:5 lead and converted his second match point after several break chances were averted.
Thanks to his success at the Masters tournament in Paris, which is worth 5.4 million euros in prize money, Rune is the first Danish tennis professional to make it into the top ten, according to ATP information. In addition, the 19-year-old is the first substitute for the end of the ATP season, where Djokovic is a favorite from November 13th to 20th in Turin.