World No 7 Holger Rune beat a frustrated Novak Djokovic 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 on Wednesday, sending the top seed spinning out in a dramatic rain-interrupted quarterfinal at the Italian Open.
Six-time champion Djokovic was carrying an unspecified injury into the match as he lost for a second time to the rising 20-year-old Dane.
Rune defeated the Serb to win the Masters 1000 at Paris Bercy last November.
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The latest contest between the pair was marred by spats with the chair umpire by both players – Djokovic on a time warning and Rune over a second-set line call.
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Play was halted for just over an hour by rain.