In his short time on tour, Holger Rune has shown he has the game – and the belief – to push the great Novak Djokovic to his tennis limits.

In the past two years they’ve played four matches at prestigious ATP events and each one has extended the maximum three sets.

Rune stunningly upstaged Djokovic in the 2022 Paris Masters final, and repeated the feat in the Rome quarterfinals six months later.

Yet Djokovic has won their past two clashes – a Paris rematch, and at the ATP Finals, both in 2023 – and is yet to be truly troubled by the Danish rising star on the Grand Slam stage.

On Monday, we will see just how far Rune has come when he lines up against Djokovic at Centre Court in Wimbledon’s fourth round.

“I’m expecting a tough battle. I think that’s always how it’s going to be when you play Novak,” said Rune, who currently trails the head-to-head series 2-3.

“He’s one of the toughest competitors of all time and one of the most successful players. So I’m expecting nothing but a great level from him.

“I know he did his surgery, but honestly I practiced with him in the first week, and I saw him playing a little bit. He seems like he’s playing very well, feeling confident.

“Definitely have to play on my best level to have a chance to win, so that’s what I’m going to try to do.”

Rune must indeed step up compared to his third-round outing, during which he trailed 220th-ranked qualifier Quentin Halys by two-sets-to-love before recovering to survive in five.

But the 21-year-old has shown an ability to do just that on the biggest stages.

Rune is targeting a fourth Grand Slam quarterfinal and second straight at Wimbledon, and has the added motivation to potentially snap a nine-match losing streak against top-five players.

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Djokovic is currently ranked world No.2. When he was the dominant world No.1 who scooped the first three major titles of 2021, he came up against an 18-year-old Rune in his opening round match at the US Open.

Rune, then a qualifier, snatched a set and gave us a glimpse of his big-match instincts, but could not physically match Djokovic, who won the other three sets 6-1, 6-2 and 6-1.

“I actually get along very well with him. He’s a very nice guy. Always has been to me and to my team, and vice versa. I always try to be available to him for any practice or advice or guidance or anything like that,” Djokovic revealed.

“I remember him since he was quite young… We trained a lot on different surfaces, spent some time.

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“We respect each other. I think we have quite similar styles of tennis. But when it comes to playing on the court and competing, obviously we both have that fire.

“I’m sure that on Monday we’ll see a lot of fireworks on the court. He’s a spectacular player, no doubt. He loves the big stage, loves playing on grass. I think he’s very, very tricky opponent.

“It’s going to take my best tennis to win.”