SUMMARY
- Holger Rune is one of the biggest stars on the tour, and he is also the beneficiary of Novak Djokovic's kindness.
- Djokovic and Rune have always been open about their admiration for each other.
Danish player Holger Rune is one of the most exciting young talents on the tour at present. Rune has made remarkable strides in his career and has carved a niche for himself among the top ten players in the world. While Rune’s success has been a joy to watch, he revealed the one player who has helped the younger generation the most. It is none other than Serbian tennis legend Novak Djokovic.
Djokovic is one of the most decorated tennis players of all time. So far in his career, he has won 24 major titles and is hungry for more. Despite the competition and the rivalries on the court, Djokovic has nurtured a good relationship with the younger generation. Moreover, Novak also helps out younger players, not just with advice but also by providing financial assistance.
Hamad Medjedovic can attest to how important a role Novak played in his budding career. Djokovic took over all his financial responsibilities. Hamad repaid Djokovic’s faith in him, as he went on to win the ATP Next-Gen finals in 2023.
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Novak’s generous nature is well documented, and he has always helped out his peers. World No. 3 Daniil Medvedev once spoke about how Djokovic offered to fly him to Niš on a private jet.
Rune himself has gained a lot of knowledge from Novak. From being Novak’s hitting partner to playing against him, Holger has come into his own. Djokovic has openly praised Holger in the past too. “He’s been really establishing himself as a top player. He’s a top 10 player, deservedly so,” he said (via Tennis Majors).
In 2021, Holger revealed that when it came to the younger generation, it was not Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal, but Djokovic was the most giving. With this old quote resurfacing after two years, Holger took a dig at the account that reposted it.
Something i Said in 2021 😂 low on news @eurosport ??
— Holger Rune (@holgerrune2003) February 2, 2024
Since this old interview, Holger Rune has held his own against the tennis giants. In this article, we delve deeper into his record against the Big 3.
Holger Rune vs. the Big 3
The Big 3’s contribution to tennis cannot be quantified. They took the sport to greater heights with their rivalries and friendships. The trio was instrumental in influencing many of the younger generation to start playing tennis. Unfortunately for Holger, he never got a chance to play against Federer or Nadal.
While Novak is one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Rune has managed to make his life difficult. The two players have locked horns five times so far, with Djokovic leading with three wins.
Rune has defeated the Serb twice so far. He claimed his first win over Novak at the Paris Masters final in 2022. The victory came as a shock to many since experts predicted it would be an easy win for Djokovic.
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Holger got his second win against Novak the following year, in the quarterfinals in Rome. They clashed for a spot in the semifinals, but Rune thwarted Novak’s plans.
Holger Rune has truly established himself as one of the players to watch out for. Even though he might falter now and then, he will always come back stronger.