Novak
Djokovic expressed regret over breaking rackets during the match against Holger
Rune at the 2023 ATP Finals.
The Serbian
tennis player delivered a strong performance to overcome Rune with a score of
7-6(4), 6-7(1), 6-3. The young Danish player didn't succumb to favoritism and
displayed enough credentials to challenge the world No.1, gaining an advantage
at various points in the match, although it wasn't enough to defeat Djokovic.
The
thrilling encounter took a dramatic turn when 'Nole' broke two rackets,
unleashing his anger midway through the third set, stomping on them and leaving
them shattered. In the post-match press conference, Djokovic addressed the
incident and expressed regret for losing his composure:
"I
mean, some people are saying that if you want to use that word 'pragmatic' for
me to do that because then I can release whatever tension I'm holding and
frustration and move on, maybe that was the case tonight. But I wouldn't
encourage anybody doing that. Neither do I encourage myself," Djokovic
said.
"I'm
not happy. I'm not happy with that. I definitely don't like that I have done
that, but I have done it and that is it and I have to take responsibility.
Yeah, I guess in some cases it has happened in the past where I do that and
come back playing more freely, I guess, just letting go. There are different
ways, maybe smarter ways to let go of the frustration than breaking a
racquet," he added with a smile.
Despite the
frustration, Djokovic acknowledged after the match the high level displayed by
his 20-year-old opponent and admitted to being impressed with Rune's
improvements in his serve:
"Well,
there were a lot of difficult moments. It was very challenging to play Holger,
who I thought was on a very high level tonight. He had a very clear game plan.
You could see that he was very sharp, very aggressive from the beginning,
taking every chance he had to come to the net," Djokovic said.
"He
served very accurately, very precise, very strong. It was very difficult to
find any, let's say, holes in his game tonight. I really had to work very hard
and battle, which was the case, to get the win. It lasted more than three
hours. I think the longest match that I ever played here," he added.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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