By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_now | Monday, April 21, 2025
Photo Credit: Munich BMW Open Facebook
Novak Djokovic Created a Golden moment in Roland Garros’s red clay – and set a gold standard Holger Rune followed to win Barcelona.
A quiet rune crashed with the high seed Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (6), 6-2 in a dynamic Barcelona final to capture his fifth career title.
21-year-old Rune followed a simple tactical scenario: Play as Djokovic made the defeat of Alcaraz in the Olympic Medal Olympic match in Paris last August.
“At first, when it was broken, I was thinking, ‘wow, how can I beat?’ “Rune told the media in Barcelona. “I said to myself,” Ok, what did Novak do when he beat him? “
“I played it back on my mind, the Olympic final?” I was looking at them all when they played, amazing matches and thought, ‘Ok, let’s try to play that kind of style, they really make it play a lot of balls.’
“I’m really happy how I stayed composed when it mattered and I was also very brave when it mattered.”
A djokovic inspired out of duel Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2) In an Olympic entertainment final To capture his first gold medal and complete the golden Slam career in the style of stimulating last summer.
Inserting his arms towards heaven, an emotional djokovic sat in his court place by entering his towel after completing his career searching to capture gold for Serbia with one of the most passionate performances of his life.
The 37-year-old Serbian superstar made history as the oldest Olympic Golden Tennis champion since tennis returned to the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
Barcelona’s latest Tiebreaker was blocked 4-Rune threw a advanced Djokovic-Esque crossing that helped him advantage in line at the switch.
Of course, some of the benefits can play with the shrewdness of all Gjokovic judges.
Interestingly, Gjokovic has said Rune reminds him of himself.
Gjokovic said Rune’s Rune balance on both sides, the coverage of the court and his ability to shine on all surfaces remind him of the man in the mirror.
“(Rune) The kind reminds me of a little, the way he plays. It really fits physically, excellent protection, but also excellent counter-worker,” Djokovic said. “It can hurt you both from the first and back side. Really strong serve. Aggressive return.
“Only versatile player on all surfaces. Especially in clay I think he finds himself really comfortable playing.”
