Boris Becker returns to the tennis court – as Holger Rune’s coach. Becker should lead the talented Dane back to his old performance level. For how long is still open.
Boris Becker is once again a “super coach”. A made-up title, but certainly accurate in the case of Boris Becker. After all, Holger Rune can be happy to have one of the most famous tennis experts in the world at his side, at least until the end of the year. The 55-year-old confirmed this to the TV channel Eurosport on Thursday (October 19, 2023).
“It makes me a little proud that he asked me”said Becker. “Holger then invited me to a week of training in Monte Carlo. I also had a long conversation there with his mother Aneke and his performance coach Lapo Becherini. The three of us are now responsible for Holger.”
Stop Runes Fortmdeep
Becker had been standing in the training hall with Rune for a few days now, watching the 20-year-old giant talent from Denmark. Both sides sniffed each other out and tried to see if they were compatible. That seems to be the case, Rune and Becker have agreed on a more intensive collaboration.
The 20-year-old Dane seems to be in dire need of sporting help at the moment. From the second half of the year onwards, Rune was hardly able to draw attention to himself in sport – also because of recurring back problems. Defeat followed defeat.
The shooting star, who celebrated three tournament victories in Munich, Stockholm and the ATP Masters in Paris last season, is currently still ranked sixth in the world rankings. He was able to defend his title in Munich this year. However, the trend is downwards. Rune has been going through a dip in form for some time now and needs to be stopped.
Small Bouts of arrogance
This is where Becker, with his vast experience, will now be working. Just like he did during his time as Novak Djokovic’s coach (from 2013 to 2016). The Leimen player is less concerned with the technical deficiencies of his new protégé. Rather, Becker can give the extremely emotional and at times hot-blooded Dane instructions on how he can and should deal with public and personal expectations at his young age. Because Rune is a similar high-flyer as his new coach. And dealing with that isn’t always easy for him.
On the pitch, Rune is prone to small bouts of arrogance from time to time, which reflect the mental (excessive) pressure. When he makes his own mistakes, he doesn’t find kind and often loud words for his mother Aneke, who always accompanies him – and even sends her away from the stadium.
Conversation follows
Who would know better than Becker what to expect from a player? After all, he had these experiences for the first time at the age of 17 as a Wimbledon winner – and learned to deal with these sporting heights and the associated demands. And Becker probably remembers exactly how Rune feels in these special moments. And give advice on how Rune can somehow get the overflowing emotions under control. Becker experienced everything firsthand and can report on his life lessons.
Basel, Paris and, at best, the season finale in Turin are now on the agenda for Becker and Rune. What happens next? We’ll see. “Afterwards we sit down together and think about whether the tournaments were successful, whether he enjoyed it and whether I enjoyed it.”said Becker.