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The duel between Holger Rune (20, ATP 7) and Novak Djokovic (25, ATP 1) was eagerly awaited. According to the predictions, the match will be very exciting, with the better ending for the young Dane, who wins 6:2, 4:6 and 6:2. And since both are known for showing and acting out their emotions, there’s drama in Rome’s quarter-finals, too.
Rune serves at 6:2 and 2:3 and even takes the lead. But then a ball from Djokovic flies just behind the line. Rune stops playing, sure the ball went out. Referee Mohamed Lahyani comes and checks, but insists the felt ball had slipped in or off the line. The winner of the Masters in Paris 2022 is beside himself and does not want to understand what the Swede decided there. And can be completely thrown out of the concept.
Copied Djokovic’s trick?
Rune loses the point, also Djokovic’s subsequent service game and is suddenly 2: 5 behind in the second set. When switching sides, he starts ranting, describing the referee as a joke and asking him “whether he will actually be punished and fined for his mistakes and wrong decisions?”. His coach Patrick Mouratoglou (52) stands up and tries to calm the hotspur. But Rune cannot be calmed down.
The excitement is justified, the Hawkeye photos show that the ball was actually out. It is not the first time that Lahyani has sparked discussion in Rome. The 56-year-old also had a fight with Murray that was very similar to the one with Rune.
While the Dane is so upset, he asks in a harsh tone to see the physio. He is sent to him and begins to massage his right knee. And suddenly Novak Djokovic also starts to stink. He laughs evilly and talks to the referee, seeing a trick in the treatment break to throw him off the plan. He painstakingly overlooks the fact that he’s heard this accusation at almost every tournament when he’s under pressure.
Rain break helps Rune
The break actually helps the young star fight back and catch up before play is interrupted by rain and the score is 4:5. At 3.40 pm, after a break of almost 45 minutes, the game is resumed and the Djoker gets a break and with it the second set.
But the third set belongs to the youngsters. Rune starts furiously and breaks the Serbs twice, takes a 4-0 lead and plays Djokovic against the wall. The Serb is now also starting to argue and argue with the referee, who accuses him of turning on the service clock too early while he is still saying the score.
First final without Djokovic or Nadal since 2004
In the end, not everything helps if you complain and don’t rage, the Serb clearly loses the last set 2:6 and flies out as defending champion. For the first time since 2004, neither Djokovic nor Nadal will play in the final at the Foro Italico.
For Djokovic, who will be replaced at the top of the world ranking next week by the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, it was the second defeat in the third game against Rune. In November 2022, the Serbian also lost to the 15-year-old Dane in the final in Paris in three sets. In the semi-finals, Holger Rune will compete against the winner of the quarter-final match between Casper Ruud and Francisco Cerundolo. (nsa)
Source : Blick
I’m Emma Jack, a news website author at 24 News Reporters. I have been in the industry for over five years and it has been an incredible journey so far. I specialize in sports reporting and am highly knowledgeable about the latest trends and developments in this field.
