Holger Rune, a 19-year-old from Denmark, defeated Novak Djokovic 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, to win the Paris Masters and climb into the top 10.
In a match that lasted 153 minutes in Paris, Rune outlasted the shrewd Djokovic to win his third title in what has been a breakthrough year for the teenager. Rune was initially playing much more tentatively than he had done all week, maybe as a result of the natural anxieties that come with competing in a first Masters 1000 final.
Djokovic broke the Dane in the fourth game by punishing two double faults, which only gave him more self-assurance. The 21-time Grand Slam champion swept to the opening set despite Rune only being able to earn five points on his serve the entire set.
Rune proved to be “a fantastic competitor” as Djokovic had anticipated before the match, and this was no less true than in the decisive set. Before bouncing back in the decider, Rune trailed 1-3 but was beginning to handle the pressure Djokovic put on him admirably as he had done earlier against Hubert Hurkacz, Andrey Rublev, Carlos Alcaraz, and Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Before the pivotal moment, Djokovic persisted to revert to deuce seven times. However, Djokovic made an uncommon error to concede the title. He went for a net ball and tried to just lift his shot over the net to fend off Rune, but the Serbian instead hit the net and Rune let off in joyous celebrations.
