ROME (AFP) – Seventh-ranked Holger Rune beat a frustrated Novak Djokovic, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 in a rain-interrupted quarter-final at the Italian Open, where women’s top seed Iga Swiatek retired injured on Wednesday.
Serbian star Djokovic, who will drop to second in the world on Monday behind Carlos Alcaraz, admitted that he was outplayed in heavy, wet conditions after a week of rain in normally sunny Rome.
“This is probably the coldest, wettest tournament I’ve ever played here in Rome,” the 22-time Grand Slam winner said. “I don’t recall so many days in a row (of) raining. In these conditions, it’s very difficult to get the ball past him.”
“He’s a very talented, dynamic player – he was too good for me for most of the match,” Djokovic added of Rune.
With her French Open title defense looming this month, Swiatek retired in the third set of her quarter-final against Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina.
Poland’s Swiatek had roared through the first set but after receiving treatment she called a halt with a right leg injury to hand Wimbledon champion Rybakina a 2-6, 7-6 (7/3), 2-2 win and a semi-final spot.
Victory in drizzle and evening chill came in just under two and a half hours as Swiatek’s 14-match Rome win streak was ended.
Rybakina ended with 32 winners and 26 unforced errors, in a match Swiatek led by a set and 4-2.
Rybakina will now take on former Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko, who defeated Spain’s Paula Badosa, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
Denmark’s Rune will line up against Casper Ruud in the semifinals after the Norwegian fourth seed defeated Francisco Cerundolo 7-6 (7/5), 6-4.
