The guesswork is over. Tennis legend Boris Becker has a new job. The former professional confirmed his new coaching position and explained what appeals to him about it.
Boris Becker is back on the tennis tour in an official capacity. “I can confirm that I am Holger Rune’s coach,” the three-time Wimbledon winner told the “Eurosport” podcast “Das Gelbe vom Ball”.
Becker explained that he had been in contact with the current world number six for a long time. “Now it’s a great fit. My calendar allows it and I’ve always been interested in Holger because he’s so committed and temperamental on the tennis court.”
Becker enjoys emotional outbursts
The emotionality is something he notices positively about Rune and brings back memories. “I like his emotional outbursts. I’ve already coached a player who was sometimes not completely at his wits on the court: Novak Djokovic. But that’s allowed,” said the 55-year-old. It is then important that the player apologizes and then “works with concentration” again. “I did the same thing back then as a professional.”
The decision was anything but difficult for him. “I love tennis and if one of the best 20-year-olds in the world asks me if I would like to coach him… anyone who says no doesn’t have much to do with the sport.” For him, the Dane is “a rough diamond that needs polishing.”
Becker has no shortage of ideas for future directions.
Tennis legend already has a few ideas
“What is Holger’s motivation and the reason for going to China, for example? Is it about winning just the first round or the tournament straight away, is it about points for the ranking? That has to be discussed and it has to be very clear “What the motivation looks like,” said Becker. “I have some ideas about what can be improved. It starts with attitude, mentality, psyche.”
The first stress test for both of them will be on Saturday. Then the Swiss Indoors will start in Basel and Becker will celebrate his debut. The big goal is to qualify for the ATP finals in Turin.
After his release from prison (tax crimes), Becker recently worked again as a TV expert. As a coach, he looked after the tennis superstar Novak Djokovic between 2013 and 2016 and also collected some successes.