9:14 p.m
Djokovic rune: 0-0
The Dane is immediately there, stays cool in a long rally, runs around the backhand and then forces the Serb to make a mistake with a poisonous forehand cross. However, Djoker then gets two free points with two extremely strong serves, with which he equalizes to 30:30.
9:12 p.m
Djokovic rune: 0-0
Holger Rune wins the coin toss and decides to return. Novak Djokovic now opens the match with his own serve. However, the 36-year-old conceded his opponent’s return winner on the first service. 0:15.
9:04 p.m
The players are there
Both players have reached the center court and are currently settling into their assigned seats. Now there’s the coin toss and the warm-up game and then the game can start.
8:38 p.m
The place is already free
By the way, the doubles at the ATP Finals scheduled for 6:30 p.m. are already over. So this means that this highly anticipated match between Novak Djokovic and Holger Rune should be able to start as scheduled at 9:00 p.m. We’ll report back to the live ticker as soon as both players have reached the Pala Alpitour court.
8:31 p.m
Balance sheet is balanced
Purely on paper, one might think that this opening match promises to be a one-sided affair. The direct comparison promises a close and even match, because after four meetings between both athletes the score is 2:2, with both opponents always winning at least one set in all four duels. Holger Rune’s first and so far only major title also came via Djoker. In the final of the Paris Masters 2022, the Dane beat the Serbian 2:1 (3:6, 6:3 and 7:5) almost exactly a year ago.
20:24
Rune before finals debut
Holger Rune, who is now being looked after by former Djokovic coach Boris Becker, which gives this opening match a very explosive footnote, can look back on a good year. Neither the final of the Monte Carlo Masters nor the final of the Rome Masters was enough for another major title. The 20-year-old Dane won a clay court tournament in Munich (ATP 250) in April of this year, where he secured his fourth individual title on the ATP Tour in his career. The fact that he has now qualified for the ATP Finals for the first time underlines the standing that the tenth in the world rankings has now achieved.
8:18 p.m
One of the five defeats was attributable to Rune
In Paris-Bercy, where even stomach problems and back problems couldn’t stop Djoker from securing his sixth singles title in another exceptional year, Novak Djokovic beat his current opponent Holger Rune in an intense match in the quarter-finals on the way to the title a week and a half just 2:1 (7:5, 6:7 and 6:4). But: One of the Serb’s only five defeats in the entire 2023 calendar year was also attributable to the Dane, who defeated Novak Djokovic 2-1 in the quarter-finals of the Rome Masters in mid-May 2023 (6:2, 4:6 and 6:2 ).
20:12
Djokovic with 31 wins from the last 32 singles
Novak Djokovic recently won the Western & Southern Open, the US Open and the Paris Masters in succession, where he secured his 40th Masters title of his career (record). In total, the 36-year-old superstar has won 31 of his last 32 singles matches. The only defeat came in the final of the Wimbledon Championships (2:3 against Carlos Alcaraz, who incidentally faces Alexander Zverev tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. at the start of the Red Group).
8:06 p.m
The Djoker is waiting for more records
Novak Djokovic not only holds the record for the most Grand Slam titles in singles, but also won the ATP Finals for the sixth time a year ago, which means he is currently tied with Roger Federer in the all-time best list. If the Serb can be crowned unofficial world champion again this year, he would also be the sole record winner at the ATP Tour’s prestigious year-end tournament.
8:00 p.m
Welcome from Turin
Good evening and welcome from the Pala Alpitour in Turin. Here in Piedmont the second singles of the day will take place in the Green Group today at 9 p.m. Top favorite Novak Djokovic meets Holger Rune after Jannik Sinner beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 2-0 this afternoon.