The Nitto ATP Final is set to begin, and the excitement around it is palpable. Danish tennis star Holger Rune is all set to make his debut at the year-end championships this year. However, he dropped his new look before taking on the defending champion, Novak Djokovic, much to the confusion of his fans.
Rune had a less-than-stellar season. He started off the year on a strong note before his form tapered off. However, he has managed to find his footing once again, and it has come at the right time too. The championship is a prestigious event, and all players will put their best foot forward.
Rune will make his debut in Turin with a new look to make it even more memorable. He took to Instagram to share a picture of himself in a beanie. However, fans are a little confused by the new look.
why does holger look nothing like holger 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/ymPl4IV6zc
— Greg (@gregariousone_) November 8, 2023
Several fans think that the young Dane looks like a different person. Comparisons have flown in thick and fast, ranging from James Franco to Enrique Iglesias. One fan even commented, “I thought he was Justin Beiber.” Here are a few reactions to Holger’s new look.
Is it me or he really looks like a young James Franco?
— Josh Can’t Volley (@Josh_Eversleigh) November 8, 2023
He’s giving young enrique Iglesias
— Ons (@_ons____) November 8, 2023
I THOUGHT HE WAS JUSTIN BIEBER 😭😭 https://t.co/pnhQLmxiH5
— MJ ~ SabaTek Supremacy (@MJtekk) November 8, 2023
Holger Rune has the perfect opportunity to start off his campaign with a bang. He is one of the few players to defeat Novak, and he can do it again.
Holger Rune vs Novak Djokovic match preview and head-to-head
Djokovic is the defending champion of the ATP Finals. He defeated Casper Ruud in the finals last year to win a record sixth title.
Heading into this match, Novak is the favorite to walk away with the win. The two players had locked horns at the Paris Masters just last week, and Djokovic handed Rune a defeat. Given the kind of form Djokovic has been in, he will try to repeat the result of the Paris Masters. However, Rune has defeated him in the past, and a surprise first-round loss to the Dane is not out of the equation.
Both players have gone head-to-head four times so far and are evenly matched. Novak has two wins from their encounters, as does Rune. The Dane, though, can go ahead, as Novak has looked a little rusty.
With an 18-match winning streak under his belt, Novak is the player to beat this season. Can Holger Rune finally put an end to the Djokovic juggernaut? We will find out!