Holger Rune failed to win his second Paris Masters title last week, falling to Alexander Zverev in the semi-final. Holger wrote history in Paris two years ago, winning his first notable title and doing that in an unprecedented way! The young Dane defeated five top-10 rivals en route to a trophy, becoming the first player to achieve that outside the ATP Finals! Speaking about his run last week, Rune admitted he still remembers all the details from all six matches, from prevailing over Stan Wawrinka in the opening round to toppling the most decorated Paris Masters player, Novak Djokovic, in the title clash. Holger cracked the top-10 with those points and became the youngest Paris Masters champion. Let's revive Rune's historical run toward the 2022 Paris Masters title.
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Rune survives an early scare versus Stan Wawrinka
The young Dane kicked off the action against the three-time Major winner Stan Wawrinka and could have suffered an early loss. Holger prevailed 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 in two and a half hours, fending off three match points and emerging at the top! Wawrinka created more break chances but failed to convert them, especially those match points. He grabbed the opener with a break in game ten and overcame a 4-2 deficit in the second set. Holger denied two match points on serve in the tenth game and gained a boost, earning another break in game 11 and forcing a decider with a hold at 6-5. They served well in the first 11 games of the final set, and Rune played against a match point at 5-6. He saved it and claimed the tie break 7-3, surviving a scare and making a winning start.
Holger tops Hubert Hurkacz and Lorenzo Musetti, reaches quarter-final
Holger met Hubert Hurkacz in the second round and scored a 7-5, 6-1 victory. The Dane faced no break points, serving well and breaking the rival's resistance in the closing stages of the opening set. Rune took charge at 4-5 and rattled off seven games to sail over the top. The young gun faced Andrey Rublev in the last 16, beating the Russian 6-4, 7-5 in an hour and a half. Holger denied all six break points and mounted the pressure on the other side, delivering two breaks and moving over the top. A teenager secured an early break in the opener and played against two set points at 4-5 in the second. Rune saved them, secured a break at love in the next one and sealed the deal on his serve at 6-5 for a place in the last eight.
Rune passes Carlos Alcaraz and Felix Auger-Aliassime and reaches the final
Not stopping there, Holger extended his top-10 streak and defeated world no. 1 Carlos Alcaraz 6-3, 6-6 in the quarter-final. The Spaniard retired in the closing stages of the second set due to an injury, propelling his coeval into the last four. Rune grabbed a single break in the first set and denied two break points in the eighth game of the second set. The Dane led 3-1 in the tie break before the world's best player ended his campaign due to muscle discomfort. Seeking his first Masters 1000 final, Holger toppled Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 6-2, passing another obstacle and setting the title clash versus the six-time champion Novak Djokovic. Rune served well, dropping 11 points in his games and facing no break points. The Canadian could not follow that pace, playing against eight break points and suffering three breaks to send a teenager over the top. The Dane delivered an early break in the opener and sealed the deal with back-to-back return games at the beginning of the second set.
Holger Rune tops Novak Djokovic, winning the title and writing history books
Seeking his first Masters 1000 title, Rune ousted Novak Djokovic 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 in two and a half hours, becoming the youngest champion at this event. Novak claimed five points more, but not the crucial ones. He outplayed Holger behind the first and faced only three break points, failing to defend any. The youngster played against 12 break points, denying ten, including six in the final game of the encounter, to emerge at the top and experience his career-best moment at 19. The six-time winner made a reliable start, losing five points in his games in the opening set and securing a single break for the advantage. Holger hit double faults in the fourth game, losing serve and falling 3-1 behind. The Serb provided three fine holds, wrapping up the first part of the duel with a hold in game nine for 6-3 after 36 minutes. Rune survived three break points at the beginning of the second set for a vital hold. He broke the legend in the next one after the rival's loose forehands, moving in front and holding after deuces in the next one for 3-0.
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Holger served well in the rest of the set, holding at love at 5-3 and forcing a decider after an hour and 20 minutes. Novak broke at 15 in the fourth game after the young gun's double fault, opening a 3-1 gap and moving closer to the finish line. However, he wasted a game point in the next one and dropped serve after Rune's forehandcrosscourtwinner, bringing a teenager back into contention. The Serb received a massage on his left thigh during the pause but remained competitive. He reached two deuces on the return in the eighth game before the Dane closed it and locked the result at 4-4. Hoger served to stay in the match in the tenth game, closing it with a service winner for more drama. Djokovic lost ground in the 11th game, spraying a forehand error and losing serve to find himself 6-5 behind.
Rune served for a Masters 1000 title in the 12th game and climbed back from 0-30 with winners. Novak created a break chance with a smash winner, and the young gun saved it with a forehand winner. The Serb missed the second break point with a wayward forehand and squandered the third after a drop shot error. The Dane denied the fourth break point with a smash winner, giving everything to avoid a tie break. Djokovic landed a volley winner for the fifth break opportunity and missed a backhand. Rune earned a match point with a volley winner and wasted it with a double fault, struggling physically and playing against the sixth break point. He erased it with a service winner and created the second match point with a forced error. Holger converted it, starting a massive celebration and writing history.
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"I remember almost every moment of my 2022 Paris Masters run, from the first round against Stan to the final versus Novak. Those are great memories, and I always want to play at my best in Bercy, liking the conditions on both courts," Holger Rune said.
