May 17, (THEWILL) – World number one, Novak Djokovic, suffered a surprising defeat in the Italian Open, as he was ousted by Holger Rune in a rain-interrupted and emotionally charged match.
Rune, who previously beat Djokovic in the Paris Masters final in November, displayed a strong performance and showed resilience after a controversial line call and a one-hour rain delay. The 20-year-old secured a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 victory over the defending champion and will now face either Casper Ruud or Francisco Cerundolo, while Djokovic shifts his focus to the upcoming French Open, commencing on May 28.
This outcome marks the first time since 2004 that neither Djokovic nor Rafael Nadal will feature in the Italian Open final. Rune dominated from the outset, securing an early break and defending two break points in the following game to establish a 2-0 lead. Djokovic, struggling to find his rhythm and precision in the slower conditions, encountered difficulties with his drop shots and groundstrokes.
Rune took full advantage of the situation, extending his advantage to 4-1 before comfortably clinching the set. The momentum shifted during a contentious moment in the second set when a line call went against Rune. Although Rune believed the ball was out, umpire Mohamed Lahyani ruled it in, leading to frustration and a heated exchange.
As rain interrupted play, Djokovic appeared to gain momentum and took a 4-2 lead after Rune missed a smash. However, the young Danish player regrouped impressively, showcasing composure and resilience by winning a 34-shot rally and breaking Djokovic’s serve. The rain delay did not deter Rune’s determination as he dominated the third set, winning the first four games and ultimately sealing the match when Djokovic hit a forehand long.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
