Patrick McEnroe acknowledged that Holger Rune is a rising star in the game, but he doubts the 19-year-old is ready to beat Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open. The 19-year-old Rune stunningly beat five top 10 players en route to winning his first Masters title in Paris last week.
In the Paris final, Rune stunned Djokovic 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. If Rune wants to be able to beat Djokovic at a Grand Slam, McEnroe feels the Dane will have to improve his fitness and stamina from him because the 19-year-old looked absolutely pumped towards the end of the Paris final.
McEnroe on why Rune isn’t ready to beat Djokovic in Australia
«This guy (Holger Rune) is a phenomenal athlete, amazing legs, amazing shot selection, all in all an electric player to watch. But I don’t see him beating Djokovic in the best of 5 in Australia.
Of course, he can do some work in the next few months, which I hope he will. But the point is, if the Australian Open were to start next week, to me Djokovic is the solid favourite. It has been shown in recent years, especially that it is much more difficult to beat Rafa and Novak in the best of 5 if they are healthy and ready to play.
We have seen them get eliminated in these events and more in the last 3-5 years, by the Tsitsipas and the Zverevs. But do it to the best of 5? That’s why Rune will have to work a little harder physically.
Particularly late in the match, it was clear to me that Rune was running out of smoke. It was amazing that he was able to cross the finish line, particularly in that last game at 6-5 in the third,» McEnroe said on the Holding Court podcast with Patrick McEnroe, according to Sportskeeda.
Djokovic, 35, is hoping to have his visa ban from Australia rescinded in the coming weeks so that he will be allowed to return to the Australian Open in 2023. At the Australian Open, Djokovic is a record nine-time champion.
