Holger Rune and Novak Djokovic played out an epic three-set match in the first match of the 2023 ATP Finals group stage in Turin.
For the fourth time in a row the two players had to finish their match in a deciding set with the Danish player winning at least one set in all five meetings.
Despite the defeat, the eighth seed was proud of the way he fought against world number 1 Djokovic.
“We play some epic matches every time we meet. Unfortunately, I couldn’t do that at this meeting, but that’s what happened. “I have to look for and take things from the match where I feel happy with that aspect, leave things where I don’t feel happy with that aspect, then go back to training and try to make it even better,” explained Rune.
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“I think it was a match with a higher level of play than in Paris, so I was relieved (he lost in three sets to Djokovic at the Paris Masters earlier this month). The results are pretty much the same. Novak is an amazing tennis player.”
The tennis player who debuted at the ATP Finals, cornered the player who this season won three Grand Slam titles, Djokovic throughout the match which lasted 3 hours 4 minutes before losing. The 20-year-old remained happy with how he handled the physical elements of the match.
“I think I feel fine physically. Of course I feel it. We competed for 3 hours. But I’m sure he feels it a little too. I was ready, if I got the chance, to go from 5-3 to 5-4 to move on, but it didn’t happen. “I think I try to handle my energy as best as possible during the match, not use too much energy unnecessarily, and stay calm and play tennis the way I like it,” said Holger Rune.
Rune will next face Greek tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second match of the Green Group before facing Italian player Jannik Sinner in the final match of the group phase. He still has a chance to get through the group phase and qualify for the last four.
