ROME (AP) – Novak Djokovic sees a bit of himself in Holger Rune.
The 20-year-old Rune is solid in nearly every area: A great mover and super fit physically, he’s strong off both his forehand and backhand, has good hands and is an aggressive returner.
Perhaps that’s why Rune has now recorded two victories over Djokovic in little more than six months, beating the 22-time Grand Slam champion 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 on Wednesday to reach the Italian Open semi-finals.
Rune, who also defeated Djokovic in the Paris Masters final in November, troubled the 22-time major winner with his rapid court coverage. He made his opponent hit extra balls on points that Djokovic thought he had already finished off.
Djokovic said the consistently damp conditions at the Foro Italico this week were challenging for him.
“In these kind of conditions, it’s very difficult to get the ball past him,” Djokovic said. “He was just better. He played too good for me for most part of the match.”
Djokovic added, “He kept his nerves and deserved to win.”
“If it’s working against Novak, it works against almost anybody,” Rune said of his performance.
The 35-year-old Djokovic didn’t appear at his best physically early on and called for a trainer after holding for a 2-1 lead in the second set.
Djokovic stormed out to a 5-2 lead in the second but Rune rallied back, winning a 34-shot rally with a sublime backhand drop-shot winner to set up a late break.
Rune also called for a trainer late in the second set to have his right leg treated.
The match was then suspended because of rain with Rune serving to stay in the set at 4-5, 0-30.
After a suspension of more than an hour, Djokovic won two straight points to break Rune’s serve and take the second set.
But Rune responded with two service breaks early in the third.
Djokovic committed 35 unforced errors to Rune’s 15, with 22 of those coming on his forehand.
With Djokovic eliminated, an 18-year streak of either him or Nadal playing in the Rome final ends.
Rune’s semifinal opponent will be Casper Ruud, who beat Francisco Cerundolo 7-6 (5), 6-4.
In the women’s tournament, two-time defending champion Iga Swiatek retired in the third set of a quarter-final against Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina because of a right thigh injury.
It was 2-2 in the third when the top-ranked Swiatek stopped after more than two hours of play. She had won the first set 6-2 then Rybakina won the second set 7-6 (3).
Rybakina will next face Jelena Ostapenko, who beat Paula Badosa 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 to reach her first semi-final on clay since winning the 2017 French Open.
