"The sooner we can get the level raised, the sooner we will take over": Holger Rune sees simple route to end Novak Djokovic dominance
ATP
Denmark’s young tennis star Holger Rune believes the easiest
way to end the career of the current world number one Novak Djokovic is to
become better than him.
The 36-year-old is regarded as the greatest player in the
history of men’s singles tennis in the Open era, having won as many as 24 Grand
Slam titles. Despite being on the wrong side of the 30s, Djokovic ended up
winning three out of four major titles in 2023.
Rune, who is regarded as one of the brightest young talent around
in the men’s singles category in the circuit alongside Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz,
Italy’s Jannik Sinner and America’s Ben Shelton, was recently quoted in a report
where he stated the easiest push someone like Djokovic into retirement is to
become better than him because that will convince him that there are other players better than him.
"Yeah, I totally agree. I have to agree and I do agree.
But the fact is, Novak is still winning three out of four Grand Slams this year,”
said the current world number eight. “So we cannot say that he is gone because
we need to beat him like not just one time but like every time. I will try to
beat him every time because if he keeps winning this big tournaments, why would
he stop?"
He continued by saying: "I mean he is not gonna stop
until we beat him so the sooner we can get the level raised, the sooner we will
take over. I actually like that Novak is still here because you know for us
young players to really see what the real world is in a way, what the real deal
is, you know.
“If you never experience Roger, Rafa or Novak, I think we
would miss something and I think Novak is like extremely high standard and I
think for us so close to see that is very helpful.”
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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