Italian Open 2023 results: Novak Djokovic loses to Holger Rune in Rome

Novak Djokovic showed signs of vexation successful the 2nd set, arguing with umpire Mohamed Lahyani and unhappy with the surface

Novak Djokovic suffered his earliest exit astatine the Italian Open since 2013 erstwhile helium was beaten by rising Danish prima Holger Rune successful the quarter-finals.

Djokovic was bidding for his seventh rubric successful the Italian superior arsenic helium prepares for the French Open connected 28 May.

Seventh effect Rune volition play Norwegian 4th effect Casper Ruud oregon Argentine 24th effect Francisco Cerundolo next.

Djokovic's preparations for the French Open person been disrupted by injury, having missed the caller Madrid Open with an elbow occupation and returning to the tribunal successful Rome arsenic helium looked to physique up signifier and fitness.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion volition person the accidental astatine Roland Garros to determination wide of Rafael Nadal successful presumption of the astir men's large titles of each time.

Following opening wins against Tomas Martin Etcheverry, Grigor Dimitrov and British fig 1 Cameron Norrie, Djokovic was going done the gears successful Rome without yet uncovering his finest form.

There were signs of hostility during a tetchy last-16 lucifer against Norrie, earlier which Djokovic needed attraction for an wounded that helium was reluctant to sermon afterwards.

Djokovic besides needed a aesculapian timeout aboriginal successful the 2nd acceptable against Rune.

While that was possibly a origin down his level performance, the main crushed for the decision was helium could not header with the problems posed by the Dane.

Rune showed wherefore helium is being predicted to triumph immoderate of the sport's biggest prizes, showing assurance successful his shot-making to commercialized blows with Djokovic and besides demonstrating his beardown intelligence resilience.

After racing to the opening acceptable successful 38 minutes, Rune mislaid absorption successful the 2nd acceptable aft a enactment telephone went against him.

The ruling by umpire Mohamed Lahyani near Rune livid and helium mislaid service to spell 4-2 down but, aft teeing up 3 interruption points by finishing an bonzer 34-shot rally with a sublime driblet shot, reduced the shortage to 5-4.

Djokovic upped his level again to endanger different interruption astatine 0-30 and - aft rainfall forced the players disconnected tribunal for implicit an hr - secured the acceptable seconds aft the restart to level the match.

But Rune refocused astatine the commencement of the deciding set, moving a treble interruption up for 3-0 and maintained attraction to service retired for a 2nd consecutive triumph implicit Djokovic.

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