Novak Djokovic exacts revenge on Holger Rune with three-set victory in Paris Masters quarter-finals

It took Novak Djokovic three sets to defeat Holger Rune in the Paris Masters quarter-finals, with the world No. 1 eventually triumphing 7-5 6-7(3) 6-4.

Rune had won his first ATP title after beating Djokovic in the final at last year’s tournament, but this time he could not overcome the 24-time Grand Slam champion.

It was a fairly even contest in the first set, which Djokovic won 7-5. It looked as if the Serbian was going to finish the encounter off in the second set, even taking it to match point, but Rune battled back.

The Dane won the resulting tie-break, forcing the match into a third set. Rune also had the majority of the crowd behind him, with Djokovic prompting boos from those watching on after he disputed a call with the umpire.

It was Djokovic’s 16th victory in a row, a winning streak which started after his loss to Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final. He will now meet Andrey Rublev in the semi-finals following the Russian’s 4-6 6-3 6-1 win over Alex de Minaur.

“It was quite a similar match to last year’s final – it was anybody’s game in every set.” Djokovic said.

“I played an awful tie-break in the second set, probably the worst one this year. But again credit to him [Rune] for staying mentally tough and playing solid. We have similar games. Move well, defend well and all-round players.”

Rune was undefeated at the Paris Masters up until this loss, and also went into the encounter with the confidence boost of having beaten Djokovic twice already, despite being just 20-years-old.

The world No. 7 is now working with Boris Becker, a former coach of Djokovic.

“He [Rune] has been playing much better in the past few weeks since working with Boris,” said Djokovic. “It was strange seeing Boris in the opposing box. I wish Holger and him all the best.”

Earlier in the day, Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas and Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov also progressed to the Paris Masters semi-finals.

Tsitsipas sealed his 300th career win by defeating Karen Khachanov 6-3 6-4, reaching his third successive ATP Tour semi-final. The seventh seed is yet to drop a set in Paris.

He will next come up against Dimitrov, who got past Hubert Hurkacz 6-1 4-6 6-4.