Boris Becker returns to tennis to coach rising star Holger Rune

By SABC Sport
19th October 2023

World number six Holger Rune has partnered up with Novak Djokovic's former coach Boris Becker.

The pair had a training week together in Monte Carlo and Becker, who coached Djokovic for three years from 2013 to 2016, has now officially joined Rune's team until the end of the season.

It marks the first high-profile role for Becker following his release from prison in the UK last December after he served eight months of a 30-month sentence for hiding financial assets and loans.

"I can confirm that I am Holger Rune's coach," Becker told Eurosport Germany's podcast.

"It makes me a little proud that he asked me. The contact has existed for a long time. Now it was a very good fit.

"My calendar allows it and I have always been interested in Holger because he is on the tennis court with so much commitment and temperament."

Twenty-year-old Dane Rune, who previously worked with Serena Williams' former coach Patrick Mouratoglou, is one of the hottest young talents in tennis but he has struggled since reaching the Wimbledon quarter-finals, winning only one of his last nine matches.

Becker will join Rune for next week's tournament in Basel, with their major goal ensuring he qualifies for the ATP Finals in Turin next month.

"Holger is a rough diamond that needs polishing," said Becker. "I like his emotional outbursts. I have coached a player before, Novak Djokovic, who was sometimes not quite himself on the court, but that is allowed."

As to whether their partnership continues into next season, Becker - who is currently barred from entering the UK - said: "There's no point in signing a two-year contract now when you've only been cooperating for a week.

"If you are successful, you usually stay together, no matter what the contract says. If not, everyone goes their own way again."