Holger Rune believes having Boris Becker in his team will help elevate his tennis to a higher level.
The world No.4 joined forces with Becker in October with the two agreeing to continue working together in the new year. Becker is a six-time Grand Slam winner who has also previously coached Novak Djokovic. The German was brought in as a replacement for Patrick Mouratoglou who Rune stopped working with shortly after his exit from the US Open.
Speaking to Bola Amarela, the 20-year-old says having somebody who is a former player mentor him will benefit his game. The Dane closed out his 2023 season by reaching the semi-finals in Basel, the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters and then playing at the ATP Finals. At the year-end event in Turin, he took a set of Djokovic and Jannik Sinner but lost both of those matches.
“I started working with Boris Becker and it’s something important for me, having a coach with experience of being a top player but also a top coach.” Said Rune.
“I learn a lot every time we are on the court. And I feel like I get a wise and qualified answer every time I ask a question about anything. And sharing my thoughts with someone who was young and was among the best when he was young… It means a lot when someone understands you. Not many people do that.”
Becker is the youngest man in history to have won Wimbledon. He claimed the men’s trophy in 1985 at the age of 17.
One area of concern for Rune is related to his consistency throughout the season. After a strong start to 2023 where was runner-up at the Monte Carlo Masters and won a title in Munich, he went through a lull during the second half of this year. After Wimbledon, he failed to win back-to-back matches at six consecutive tournaments. He also went through a similar streak in 2022 when he failed to win multiple matches at nine events in a row.
“I have a difficult times every year and this is also something that Boris Becker will help me with,” he commented.
“When is the right time to take a break, when is it time to increase or decrease training, and so on.’
“It’s difficult when things aren’t going in your favour. But I think it’s part of life, especially when you’re young. I can’t expect to know everything and do everything right.’
“I learn and I want to learn. I become stronger mentally as I go through these difficult times.”
Rune closes out 2023 with a win-loss record of 44-24 and is currently at a career ranking high.
