Novak Djokovic the favorite for the ATP Finals title claims Holger Rune having come close to send the Serb packing home

Holger Rune was two games away in his match against Jannik Sinner from qualifying to the semifinals.

Novak Djokovic the favorite for the ATP Finals title claims Holger Rune having come close to send the Serb packing home

Holger Rune (L), Novak Djokovic (R) (Sources: Tennis Majors, Sky Sports)

Danish tennis player Holger Rune was on the verge of qualifying for the semifinals of the 2023 ATP Finals, which in turn would have eliminated top seed Novak Djokovic from the tournament. He was just two games away from making it happen but Jannik Sinner made a fabulous comeback to win the match in the end.

Holger Rune took on Jannik Sinner in his last match of the 2023 ATP Finals. As Novak Djokovic won his last match against Hubert Hurkacz by a 2-1 margin, Rune would have reached the semifinals alongside Jannik Sinner by beating the Italian by a 2-1 margin as well. He was very close to making that happen but in the end, the Italian got the better of him. After his win, Rune gave his prediction about the possible winner of the 2023 ATP Finals. 

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He said (H/T: Express.co):

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I wish the rest of the players good luck at this event. It's going to be exciting to see who is going to lift the trophy. Obviously there is Novak, is still the favourite, I would say.

Talking about the Red Group, Daniil Medvedev and Carlos Alcaraz were the two players who qualified for the semifinals. Holger Rune said that it would be foolish to write them off as well. As for the Danish player, he said that he will now take some rest and start his pre-season. 

Novak Djokovic was not worried about the match between Holger Rune and Jannik Sinner 

When Novak Djokovic beat Hubert Hurkacz 7-6, 4-6, 6-1 in his last match of the ATP Finals, the Serb was unsure whether he would even advance to the semifinals of the tournament as it depended on the result of Rune vs Sinner. However, the Serb said after his match that he was not really worried about the result and all he could think about was hugging his kids. 

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic (Source: IMAGO)

Djokovic said after the match:

If Jannik wins, I qualify. If he doesn't win, I will still end the season with a win & with my sights set on the Davis Cup. That's what I feel right now. I was focused on winning the match, so I did it. The result of tonight's match is not in my hands. It is what it is. I’m not really thinking about it. All I’m thinking about right now is hugging my kids.

Novak Djokovic will face Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinal of the 2023 ATP Finals. They faced each other last in the final of the Cincinnati Open. In that match, the Serb had beaten the Spaniard after a fierce battle. 

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