Rune always plays Djokovic tough. Can he do it on the Grand Slam stage?

“I am anticipating a tricky battle. I feel that is at all times how it may be whenever you play Novak,” mentioned Rune, who at present trails the head-to-head collection 2-3.

“He is one of many hardest opponents of all time and one of the profitable gamers. So I am anticipating nothing however an important degree from him.

“I do know he did his surgical procedure, however truthfully I practiced with him within the first week, and I noticed him taking part in a bit of bit. He looks as if he is taking part in very nicely, feeling assured.

“Positively need to play on my finest degree to have an opportunity to win, so that is what I will attempt to do.”

Rune should certainly step up in comparison with his third-round outing, throughout which he trailed 220th-ranked qualifier Quentin Halys by two-sets-to-love earlier than recovering to outlive in 5.

However the 21-year-old has proven a capability to do exactly that on the largest phases.

Rune is focusing on a fourth Grand Slam quarterfinal and second straight at Wimbledon, and has the added motivation to probably snap a nine-match shedding streak towards top-five gamers.

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Djokovic is at present ranked world No.2. When he was the dominant world No.1 who scooped the primary three main titles of 2021, he got here up towards an 18-year-old Rune in his opening spherical match on the US Open.

Rune, then a qualifier, snatched a set and gave us a glimpse of his big-match instincts, however couldn’t bodily match Djokovic, who received the opposite three units 6-1, 6-2 and 6-1.