The 19-year-old Holger Rune claimed his first Masters 1000 crown at the Paris Masters. Holger took down a six-time champion Novak Djokovic 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 for his third and the biggest ATP title. Holger will crack the top-10 on Monday with these points, winning 19 of the previous 21 matches during the indoor swing and standing as the first alternate for the ATP Finals. Holger endured all the obstacles in the final set and erased six break points in the 12th game to emerge at the top and write history. The Dane became the youngest Paris Masters champion and the first player with five consecutive top-10 wins at an ATP event outside the ATP Finals! Novak settled into a fine rhythm right from the start, dropping five points in five service games and waiting for a chance on the return. He broke Holger once to clinch the set 6-3 and move closer to the finish line. Djokovic lost three points behind the initial shot in the opening game to bring the rival to deuce before landing two beautiful winners for 1-0.
The Serb closed the third game with an ace and earned two break chances in the next one after the Dane’s double fault. The youngster hit another double fault to lose serve and fall 3-1 behind. Novak secured the fifth game with a service winner to open a 4-1 gap and held at love two games later for 5-2. Holger extended the set with a solid service game before Novak produced another hold at love at 5-3 to wrap up the opener in 36 minutes. Rune fended off all three break chances in the second set and grabbed his only opportunity on the return to build the advantage and introduce a decider. The young gun climbed back from 40-0 down in the opening game, defending those three break points and producing a vital hold. Rune earned the first break point in game two after Novak’s loose forehand and seized it after another loose forehand from a six-time champion. Holger held after deuces in game three to confirm the advantage and served well for the rest of the set to stay in front.
Holger Rune defeated Novak Djokovic in the Paris Masters final.
The Dane wrapped up the set with a hold at love in game nine, playing well and forcing a decider after an hour and 20 minutes. Both players served well in the opening three games before Djokovic broke at 15 in game four after Rune’s double fault. Novak squandered a game point at 3-1 and lost an extended exchange after Holger’s forehand crosscourt winner to experience a break. The Serb received a massage on his left thigh during the pause, and the Dane locked the result at 3-3 with an ace in game six. Rune needed two deuces to wrap up the eighth game, staying calm and leveling the score at 4-4 for more drama. The more experienced player secured the ninth game at 15, and the youngster served to stay in the match in the next one. Feeling no pressure, Holger held at 15 with a booming serve and reached 5-5, ready to fight until the end. Djokovic cracked under pressure in game 11 and lost serve after a massive forehand error that pushed Rune 6-5 ahead and closer to the finish line.
Rune came from 30-0 down in game 12 with two winners before Djokovic created a break chance with a smash winner. The youngster erased it with a forehand winner and netted a routine forehand to offer Novak his second break point. The Serb wasted it with a loose forehand and earned the third with a forehand down the line winner. Novak’s drop shot failed to pass the net, and his fourth break chance came after Holger’s volley error. Rune attacked and saved it with a smash winner for the fourth deuce. The Serb won an incredible point for his fifth break opportunity after a volley winner. Djokovic missed a backhand, and Rune earned the first match point with a volley winner at the net. It came and went after a costly double fault for the sixth deuce. Struggling physically, Rune netted a forehand and offered Djokovic his sixth break point. A teenager erased it with a service winner and forced the rival’s mistake for the second match point. Holger seized it to defeat a six-time champion and start a massive celebration.