Djokovic eliminated by Rune at Rome Masters

For the second time in a row, Djokovic was turned into a former champion by young Danish talent. After winning Nole in the final of Paris Masters last year, Rune continued to beat his senior in the quarterfinals of Rome Masters 2023 with a convincing performance. For the first time since 2004, the Rome Masters final will be without both Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

Runes entered the game better and soon won the game with the backhand winner. Djokovic also had break-points later, but all missed. The number one player in the world is not in the best form, often failing in late-court handling and dropping small. Nole lost another game of delivery, before losing the first 2-6 sets.

The game reversed in the second set after a controversial situation. When Rune was leading 40-30 in the service game, the referee judged the ball on the court from Djokovic's return serve. Rune stays very close to the ball and assumes that the ball is out. The referee still decided to keep the decision, scoring Djokovic, which inhibited Rune. The 20-year-old then lost the serve game and was 2-4 down.

Despite winning the catch game and shortening the score to 4-5, Rune still lost the second set. The Danish player was leading 0-30 in the deciding game, and when the match returned after the rain, Djokovic won two points to close the set.

But Nole could not maintain the euphoria. He lost the first four games of the third set, before hanging up the racket 2-6, 6-4, 2-6 to an opponent 16 years younger. "I know I can play better," Djokovic said after the match. "Definitely I want to see different sides of the tennis I am now and be at 100%. I still feel like I can beat anyone at a Grand Slam, in five sets. ".

Djokovic also acknowledged that his opponent Rune deservedly won, praising his juniors for moving quickly, keeping calm and having a good ability to catch cards. Rune will meet Casper Ruud in the semi-finals, a re-enactment of last year's Roland Garros quarter-final meeting.

Djokovic will lose his world number one spot after the Rome Masters and enter Roland Garros as the second seed. Champion Roland Garros Rafael Nadal will hold an online press conference at 10pm today (Hanoi time) to announce whether he will attend the clay Grand Slam or not. The Spaniard has not played a match since the Australian Open.