Holger Rune feels privileged to play at the Nitto ATP Finals - UBITENNIS
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Holger Rune feels privileged to play at the Nitto ATP Finals

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2 weeks ago

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Holger Rune lost to Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (1-7) 6-3 after 3 hours and 4 minutes on his debut at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin. 

 

Djokovic moved to 3-2 in his head-to-head series against Rune, who won at least one set in all five clashes. They played the decisive third set for the fourth time in a row. Rune beat Djokovic in Paris Bercy in November 2022 and in Rome in May 2023 in two hard-fought matches before losing another close battle against his Serbian rival in Paris Bercy 2023. 

“I am proud of how I fought against Djokovic again. We have had always great matches when we played. Unfortunately I could not do it again, but that’s how it is. I have to look forward to and take things out of the match I was happy with, take the things out of the match that I wasn’t happy with, and go back to the practice tomorrow and try to make them better. I thought it was a higher level match than in Paris, that I am glad. The result was pretty similar. Novak is an amazing player. I think physically I felt okay. Of course, I feel it. We played for three hours, but I am sure he also felt it a little bit. I was ready, if I had the chance, from 5-3 to 5-4 to keep going but that did not happen. I think I tried to manage my energy as good as possible during the match, not use too much unnecessary energy and stay calm and play the tennis that I like. You cannot wish that Nole misses a shot or wish that he has an off day. He loses probably four to five matches a year, so he does not have off days. The only wish you can have in yourself is to try to play your best tennis and be the most focused on the court. You have to be ready to give everything. I enjoy playing against him, because it’s amazing to share to share the court with such a legend and we have always had great battles together. We had another good battle in Paris Bercy this year. I have to learn a little bit from that and do it a bit different this time, so I can get the win”, said Rune. 

Rune, who moved into world number 10 of the ATP Ranking for the first time in his career at the end of the 2022 season, has recorded a 43-22 record in his ATP Tour matches. He defended his title at the ATP 250 in Munich and reached two Masters 1000 quarter finals in Monte-Carlo and Rome and two quarter finals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Rune fulfilled his goal of qualifying for the ATP Finals for the first time in his career. 

He climbed to a career-high world number 4 in the ATP Ranking after a successful start to the season, but he won just four matches in the period between Wimbledon and Paris Bercy. The Danish player returned to his best shape with a semifinal in Basel and a quarter final in Paris. 

“Especially in the last few tournaments, I have been playing better tennis and got back to my level and have been improving. I had a tough period after Wimbledon, but it’s normal. Sometimes you have good and bad moments, but it’s just important to learn, and I have definitely learned”.  

Rune is pleased with the work with his coach Boris Becker, who watched the Danish player from the stands at the Pala Alpitour. “It’s great. It’s really good. Becker has been there many times himself, which helps. He can give out from his experience, give that to me on how to handle the things on the court, off the court. We are still in the tournament, so let’s continue to fight”, said Rune. 

Rune attended the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time as a hitting partner of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in 2019.

“It’s amazing. Mostly knowing that there was a small boy practicing being a hitting partner, to now competing against Djokovic, it’s cool”.  

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Luca Nardi beats Flavio Cobolli but it’s not enough to advance to the semifinals at the Next Gen Finals

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25 mins ago

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30/11/2023

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World number 115 Luca Nardi overcame Flavio Cobolli in an Italian match 3-4 (4-7) 4-2 4-3 (7-1) 1-4 4-3 (7-3) in 2 hours and 14 minutes in the final round robin match of Green Group at the Next Gen Finals at King Abdullah Sports Club in Jeddah. 

 

The win was not enough to earn a semifinal spot for Nardi. Arthur Fils is the first player to qualify for the knock-out stage. The top seeded Frenchman will face Dominic Stricker later today. Stricker needs to win just one set to reach the semifinals. 

Both players went on serve in the first set en route to the tie-break. Cobolli earned two mini-breaks to win the tie-break 7-4. 

Nardi saved two break points in the third game of the second set to take a 2-1 lead. The world number 115 broke serve in the sixth game to close out the second set 4-2. 

Cobolli converted his second break point in the first game of the third set. Nardi pulled back on serve in the sixth game to draw level to 3-3. Nardi opened up a 3-0 lead with two mini-breaks. Cobolli pulled one of the two mini-breaks back for 1-3. Nardi won the final four points with two mini-breaks to claim the tie-break 7-1. 

Nardi clutched his groin when he was serving at 0-1 in the fourth set and called a medical time-out at 0-3. Cobolli earned a break in the second game to close out the fourth set 4-1. 

Cobolli saved two break points to hold serve in the second game. Nardi fended off two break points in the fifth game. Both players held on serve en route to the tie-break. Nardi earned his first mini-break with a backhand flick from out wide to take a 2-1 lead. Cobolli pulled the mini-break back to draw level to 2-2. Nardi closed out the match with a return down the line winner.   

Nardi hit 27 winners to 12 unforced errors. 

“I am happy with the win. Even if I did not qualify, I think today was the best match I played out of the three. I am a bit sad I did not qualify, but I did not want to leave Jeddah without a win. I kept fighting today and I am happy”, said Nardi. 

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Hamad Medjedovic moves to 2-0 in Red Group at the Next Gen Finals in Jeddah

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17 hours ago

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29/11/2023

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Hamad Medjedovic edged past Luca Van Assche 4-2 2-4 4-3 (9-7) 4-1 to move to 2-0 In Red Group at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah one day after winning a marathon five-set match against Alex Michelsen. 

 

Medjedovic broke serve in the third game of the opening set to take a 2-1 lead. He held serve and saved two break points in the sixth game to close out the first set 4-2. 

Van Assche saved three break points at 2-2 before breaking serve in the sixth game  with a running forehand pass to seal the second set 4-2. 

Medjedovic earned a break point in the first game of the third set, when Van Assche made a double fault. Van Assche saved them to hold on his serve. Both players held on serve en route to a tie-break. Van Assche raced out to a 5-1 lead. Medjedovic won three consecutive points to claw his way back to 4-5. Van Assche earned three set points at 6-4, 6-5 and 7-6, but Medjedovic won the final three points to win the tie-break 9-7. 

Medjedovic left the court for nine minutes for a bathroom break. 

Medjedovic broke serve in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. When he was serving out the match, he saved three break points as he closed out the win with two unreturned serves. 

“For sure the tie-break changed a lot of things in this match. He had three set points. I stayed focused on the important points. I was consistent, hitting the ball hard, and I am glad that I won the tie-break”, said Medjedovic. 

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Abdullah Shelbayh upsets Alex Michelsen to win his first win at the Next Gen Finals in Jeddah

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21 hours ago

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29/11/2023

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Jordan’s wild card Abdullah Shelbayh beat world number 97 Alex Michelsen 4-2 1-4 4-0 4-0 to clinch his fourth top 100 win. Shelbayh moves to 1-1 in Red Group. 

 

Shelbayh hit 26 winners, including seven aces. The Asian player will face Serbia’s Hamad Medjedovic in his third round robin match. 

Shelbayh earned the first break in the third game of the opening set to take a 2-1 lead. The wild card held his next two service games at 30 to close out the first set 4-2. 

Michelsen, who reached the ATP 250 final in Newport last summer, broke in the second game of the second set to take a 2-0 lead, when Shelbayh made a backhand error. 

Michelsen earned a break point in the first game of the third set, but Shelbayh saved it with an ace. The Jordanan player held serve before breaking serve to close out the third set 4-0. Shelbayh won four consecutive games with two breaks of serve to win the fourth set 4-0. 

“Having the opportunity to play here now to finish here, I could not ask for a better end to the year. I appreciate all the support throughout the week that I have been receiving already, throughout the year and from the Arab world especially. It makes me happy to represent my country. There is some pressure but you feel like it’s good pressure to have on you shoulders when you are representing your country and the region you come from”,said Shelbayh. 

Shelbayh improved his ATP ranking from world 470 to 185. His tennis idol is Rafael Nadal. Shelbayh has trained at the Rafa Nadal for more than five years. Toni Nadal flew to Jordan when Shelbayh was 13 years old to recruit him to train at the Rafa Nadal Academy. He became the first Jordanan player to win a main-draw ATP Tour match last April against Elias Ymer in Banja Luka. 

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