"We've got to step up" admits Holger Rune in mission to dethrone Novak Djokovic from top of tennis

With Novak Djokovic showing little sign of slowing down, Danish tennis star Holger Rune has called on the other young stars of the ATP to end the Serbian's dominance on tour.

Rune has defeated Djokovic on two occasions, earning wins over the World No.1 in the final of the 2022 Paris Masters and the quarter-finals of the 2023 Italian Open. However, Djokovic is still the man to beat on the circuit, having won three of the four major titles in a year for the fourth time in his career – after 2011, 2015 and 2021 – a record in men’s tennis. Furthermore, the 24-time Grand Slam champion also won the year-ending ATP Finals and finished runner-up at Wimbledon, the only Major title that escaped his grasp in 2023.

“So we’re not there yet. So we need to be there and do everything we can to get him out of there," said Rune after his Brisbane final loss on Sunday. "Nothing is impossible but I think it’s harder [to beat Djokovic at a major]. He feels comfortable in Grand Slam, best of five sets, he has the experience of a long time. He knows that if he is two sets to love down he can still come back. I think more, not many players, but a few more players can meet him in best of three but in Grand Slams I would say it’s not even a handful.

“I know it’s going to take a lot of work and I’ve been doing my work in the pre-season so far, and been really, really willing to improve. I think that’s the most important, go outside my comfort zone to achieve some things that I haven’t achieved before. And I think that’s the way. If you stay the same, you’re never going to be different on the court. It’s about being open, I’m still young, I have a lot to learn so it’s exciting.”