WATCH: Novak Djokovic snaps two rackets by stomping his feet on them in frustration against Holger Rune at the 2023 ATP Finals

World No. 1, Novak Djokovic, was left frustrated in his opening match against Holger Rune as he challenged the Serb with his strong serves.

WATCH: Novak Djokovic snaps two rackets by stomping his feet on them in frustration against Holger Rune at the 2023 ATP Finals

Broken rackets, Novak Djokovic mid-match at Nitto ATP Finals 2023(Images via: X/@Olly_Tennis_)

24-time Grand Slam title winner Novak Djokovic ousted eighth seed Holger Rune in the duo’s first clash in the group-stage round at the ongoing ATP Finals in Turin. With his latest win, the 36-year-old has cemented his position as the World No. 1 to end his eighth year with the title.

In a thrilling opening match, Rune pushed Djokovic into playing a first set that lasted 72 minutes. With his aggressive serves and strong gameplay, the 20-year-old led Djokovic until the fifth game.

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The Paris Masters champ made a strong comeback to take the game to 3-3. In a match that spanned three hours and four minutes, Djokovic registered a 7-6, 6-7, 6-3 victory to cement himself a record 400th week as the #1 player.

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Mid-match during a break, however, following a series of grueling exchanges over the net, the US Open winner was seen stomping down on two rackets as he channeled his frustration onto them. This was uncharacteristic for the player, as Djokovic is known for maintaining his calm composure in the toughest of matches.

The Serbian ace was seen smashing two rackets behind his bench during a break and smacking his shoes on the rackets as he hit them repeatedly. After the two rackets had been destroyed, Djokovic proceeded to walk back to sit on his bench. In an interview later, Djokovic admitted to being emotional on the court, as winning his latest match held high significance for the player.

Novak Djokovic to face Jannik Sinner in his next match

With his win over eighth seed Holger Rune, Novak Djokovic has set himself up for a clash with China Open winner Jannik Sinner next. Seeded at No. 4, Jannik Sinner beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets to book himself a clash against the Serb.

Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic
Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic(Image via: FirstSportz)

In his opening-round match, Sinner beat the Greek, 6-4, 6-4, to start his campaign in Turin on a great note. Speaking about his upcoming meeting with Djokovic, Sinner has stated that he is looking forward to the match.

He believes that the US Open champion will let him know how much he has improved from last time. The 22-year-old further asserted that every time he faces Djokovic, he feels that he is coming closer to defeating him, and this is one way for him to track his progress.

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