Paris Masters 2022: Holger Rune reacts to shocking Novak Djokovic in final

Holger Rune’s unexpected victory over Novak Djokovic in the Paris Masters final brought the Danish teenager full circle. He last played Djokovic in the first round of the 2021 US Open, when he was a 145th-ranked qualifier. The Dane won the second set of that match against the dominant world No.1, thrilling the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd, who connected with the then-18-year-prime-time old’s energy. His body was then plagued by cramps, and Djokovic easily won 6-1 6-7(5) 6-2 6-1. But something changed for Rune that night in New York.

“Actually, at that match, I kind of believed that – I don’t know, it might be very early to say – but I kind of believed more in myself that, wow, I can really do this, even though I lost,” he said as per the Australian Open website. “I got more belief that night, and more trust in myself. I always had a special feeling about playing Grand Slams; it’s kind of a different mindset you have, and it’s really there that I want to put great things together.”

Following his US Open performance, Rune continued to climb the rankings but was unable to break into the top 100, expressing frustration with the adoption of a COVID-specific ranking formula, which he believed slowed his progress.

Rune climbed the ATP rankings and, as hoped, performed admirably at the major tournaments he holds in such high regard. He defeated world No.4 Stefanos Tsitsipas to reach his first Grand Slam quarterfinal at Roland Garros, and he went on a rampage after finishing third at the US Open. The teenager advanced to four consecutive ATP finals, winning in Stockholm and Paris, compiling a 19-2 record and rising from world No.31 to world No.10. In his first match in Paris, he defeated three-time major champion Stan Wawrinka by saving multiple match points.

He then defeated five top-10 players in a row – Hubert Hurkacz, Andrey Rublev, Carlos Alcaraz, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Djokovic – to win his third and biggest ATP title.