By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Monday, November 13, 2023
Registering a record-extending eighth year-end world No. 1 rating, Novak Djokovic says life is not lonely on the prime.
When world No. 1 Djokovic appears to be like throughout the web at Holger Rune, he sees a hanging similarity to a reigning Grand Slam champion with a crackling return sport— himself.
Extra: Sinner Sweeps Tsitsipas
The highest-seeded Djokovic fended off Rune 7-6(4), 6-7(1), 6-3 in his ATP Finals opener to safe the season-ending prime spot.
It was Djokovic’s third win in 5 conferences vs. Rune and left him with a transparent case of deja vu: dealing with Rune is like staring within the mirror for the six-time ATP Finals champion.
Particularly, Djokovic says Rune’s quickness across the court docket, creativity on the run, versatile two-handed backhand, rousing return sport and explosiveness remind him of himself. Then, there’s the actual fact Rune is now working with Boris Becker, who coached Djokovic to 6 Grand Slam championships.
“Each single match we play towards one another is a marathon now. It is wonderful,” Djokovic stated of Rune. “He is extremely dynamic participant, very fast, very highly effective, so aggressive. He has probably the greatest returns that I ever confronted, to be trustworthy.
“Superb return. He has improved his serve and his general sport. I feel within the final month that he is been working with Boris, there’s clearly a profit to this relationship that they are having.”
There are important variations, after all.
The 36-year-old Djokovic has captured 24 Grand Slam championships, whereas the 20-year-old Rune has but to play a significant ultimate. Djokovic’s forehand is one among his greatest weapons, whereas Rune’s forehand is far improved, it is not on the extent of the Serbian celebrity’s forehand. Djokovic is the final word proportion participant, whereas Rune let it roll on second serve usually elevating the danger issue delivering large second serves towards the Serbian.
Rune stated whereas he is flattered the Grand Slam king sees a shared fashion of their video games, he does not draw the identical conclusion.
“After all, I take the praise that he is saying we play related,” Rune stated. “I do not assume so, however that is my opinion. It is good to be evaluating with him. He is one of many biggest that we ever had within the sport.”
The Dane who defeated Djokovic in a riveting 2022 Paris ultimate says forceful first-serving and enjoying factors on his phrases are two essential keys to defeating Djokovic.
“My first serve is essential towards Novak as a result of if you happen to do not put the primary serve, you’ve gotten a little bit little bit of strain as a result of he returns so properly,” Rune stated. “So, yeah, was small issues to remind me on my identification of my sport, to play on my phrases, though it is tough towards Novak as a result of he attempt to play on his phrases. It was like a battle of which phrases there was going to be performed on, and he received that battle.”
Picture credit score: Clive Brunskill/Getty
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