{"id":299140,"date":"2023-11-12T18:26:50","date_gmt":"2023-11-12T18:26:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=299140"},"modified":"2023-11-12T18:26:50","modified_gmt":"2023-11-12T18:26:50","slug":"djokovic-warned-of-absolute-bomb-combination-as-he-prepares-for-atp-finals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/tennis\/djokovic-warned-of-absolute-bomb-combination-as-he-prepares-for-atp-finals\/","title":{"rendered":"Djokovic warned of ‘absolute bomb’ combination as he prepares for ATP Finals"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

Novak Djokovic will have a tough test in his opening match at the ATP Finals as he comes up against debutant Holger Rune. While some players could be intimidated by facing the six-time champion on their debut at the tournament, Alex Corretja isn\u2019t writing off the \u201cfearless\u201d 20-year-old. And he labelled Rune\u2019s link-up with new coach Boris Becker an \u201cabsolute bomb\u201d combination. <\/strong><\/p>\n

After winning a record-equalling sixth ATP Finals crown last year, Djokovic is back in Turin as the top seed, bidding to lift the title again so he can stand alone as a seven-time champion. But he won\u2019t have it easy in his first match of the round-robin group stage as he comes up against eighth seed Rune.<\/p>\n

The 20-year-old has qualified for the season-ending championships for the first time and he has a 2-2 lifetime record against Djokovic, including a recent defeat to the world No 1 at last week\u2019s Paris Masters. It means that Rune will be hungrier than ever to exact revenge and regain his winning record against Djokovic when they meet in Turin on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Rune\u2019s new coach Boris Becker will also want to help the world No 10 defeat his former charge. The pair started working together last month and retired tennis pro Alex Corretja believes that their partnership can lead to something special. \u201cYou know why? Because Holger feels like a big star,\u201d the Spaniard told Eurosport, explaining why they could achieve success together.<\/p>\n

Click here to join our WhatsApp community to be the first to receive breaking and exclusive tennis news<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just in <\/strong> Great Britain overcome heartbreaking start to beat Sweden at BJK Cup[LATEST] <\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you need to have someone next to you that gives you the feeling that he knows what you feel. And Boris Becker, for sure, he feels that way, too. I mean, he was a superstar. He’s still a superstar.\u201d Becker previously coached Djokovic from late 2013 to late 2016 but any insight he had wasn\u2019t enough to help Rune beat the 24-time Major champion in Paris.<\/p>\n

However, Corretja still believes they make an \u201cabsolute bomb\u201d team and can do some damage at the ATP Finals. He continued: \u201cThe start of the relationship has been great. It’s been great because you don’t need to win right away, like every match you play.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it’s good when you lose one of the matches also to understand that the process needs a little bit of time and the ideas and the mentality that he’s trying to bring will need a little bit of time to assimilate. This is the best. When it takes a little bit of time, it costs you and you appreciate it more. So I think the Rune-Becker combination, it’s an absolute bomb and it’s absolutely great for both of them.\u201d<\/p>\n