When Djokovic allowed Rune to win 1 game to avoid 6-0 loss
ATP
Novak Djokovic once let Holger Rune win one game so the young player wouldn't lose a set 0-6.
Djokovic and Rune will meet in the final of the 2022 Paris Masters, but they also met last year at the last Grand Slam of the season. Back then, Rune was ranked outside of the Top 100 of the ATP Rankings and played in his first main draw of a major tournament.
Unfortunately for him, he was drawn to play against the first-seeded Djokovic in the first round of the 2021 US Open. After losing the first set 1-6, Rune fought back in the second and won it in a tie-break.
However, he started to struggle with cramps in the third and fourth sets and eventually lost the match in four sets 1-6, 7-6(5), 2-6, 1-6. Yet, it seemed that he would lose the last set 0-6 as he could barely move, and if Djokovic wanted to, he would swiftly end it.
However, Djokovic offered his opponent to win one game in a moment that was appreciated by everyone watching the match. Back then, the Serbian player admitted that the two spoke about it in the locker room.
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"We just had a little chat in the locker room. It's an emotional moment for him. It's not easy to see that. He's really sad. I understand that. I've been through that. I just told him that he handled himself extremely well. He didn't want to stop."
Rune refused to retire, which Djokovic really admired. The young player explained that he wanted to finish the match even if he couldn't move like he wanted to.
"I never want to stop matches. I want to complete them. I want to try to see if I can find solution. Against a player like Novak, it’s tough if you can’t move 100%. Even if you move 100%, you’re not sure you’re going to beat him. It’s tough if you have no legs."
