Rune upsets Djokovic to storm into Rome semi-finals, injured Swiatek
retires
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[May 18, 2023]
ROME (Reuters) -Holger Rune sent an off-colour Novak Djokovic
tumbling out of the Italian Open on Wednesday as the young Dane
prevailed 6-2 4-6 6-2 in an epic battle against the defending
champion to secure his place in the semi-finals.
For the first time since 2004, neither Djokovic nor the injured Rafa
Nadal will be in the Rome final.
Rune outlasted Djokovic in three sets in last year's Paris Masters
final and the 20-year-old made the perfect start in search of
another upset by breaking the world number one in the opening game
of the match.
The seventh seed showcased his aggressive style and mixed up his
game with delicate drops to race ahead 4-1 as Djokovic looked
uncomfortable in between points having admitted a day earlier that
he was dealing with a physical issue.
Rune squandered a late breakpoint opportunity but the fast-fading
Djokovic could not prevent him from closing out the first set as
sections of the crowd appeared to be in disbelief over the six-times
champion's struggles.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/May/18/images/ads/current/powell_sda_PROMGRAD_2023.png)
Djokovic took a painkiller midway through the second set and the
35-year-old roared back to life to go up 5-2 following a break and a
hold, as Rune completely lost his cool over a line call by the chair
umpire.
Rune, who launched an expletive-laden rant while receiving treatment
for a leg problem, responded with a break of his own but surrendered
the set following a lengthy break in play due to rain.
Ferocious hitting from both players marked the start of the decider
but a dominant Rune pounced on Djokovic's serve en route to a 4-0
lead and completed a famous win in a rare spell of sunshine.
'ON-COURT FIGHTER'
"It's really a big win for me," Rune said. "Obviously, I did it last
year in Paris, but every match is a huge challenge when I play
Novak.
"He's one of the greatest to ever play the game so I knew I had to
be at my best. I'm super proud of myself and I enjoyed every moment
out there."
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![](../images/051823PIX/sports65.jpg)
Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico,
Rome, Italy - May 17, 2023 Denmark's Holger Rune with Serbia's Novak
Djokovic after winning his quarter final match REUTERS/Ciro De Luca
![](../images/ads/current/graue_lda_4_2021.png)
Rune said he hoped to stay humble after another
statement win on the ATP Tour.
"I have a lot to achieve... I think I'm humble and I hope people see
me this way.
"I'm a huge fighter on court and I leave everything out there. Huge
credit to Novak, he's an inspiration."
Djokovic will relinquish the top ranking to Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz
before the May 28-June 11 French Open, where the Serbian will look
to claim a men's record 23rd Grand Slam title having gone level with
Nadal by winning the Australian Open.
Denmark's Rune will next face French Open runner-up Casper Ruud who
prevailed 7-6(5) 6-4 over Francisco Cerundolo to advance to the last
four.
In the women's draw, Jelena Ostapenko reached the semi-finals in
Rome for the first time after holding off a mid-match surge from
Paula Badosa to claim a 6-2 4-6 6-3 victory.
Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open winner, will face seventh seed Elena
Rybakina for a spot in the final after world number one Iga Swiatek
retired from their semi-final with an injury.
The two-time defending champion requested a medical timeout after
Rybakina came from behind to take the second set in a tiebreak and
the Polish top seed, who returned with her leg taped up, withdrew
with the third set level at 2-2.
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(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru, additional reporting
by Anita Kobylinska in Gdansk, editing by Pritha Sarkar and Ed
Osmond)
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