Danish tennis prodigy Holger Rune, at just 20 years old, emerged as a star in the 2022 season, clinching his maiden Masters 1000 title at the Paris Masters. Despite soaring expectations, Rune’s journey through this year has been characterized by fluctuations in form, lacking consistency. However, a pivotal turning point arrived with the addition of 56-year-old German tennis legend Boris Becker to his coaching team. This inclusion has introduced a new dimension to Rune’s performance, drawing praise from Jimmy Connors and his son, both lauding the impact of the six-time Grand Slam title holder on Rune’s career trajectory.
While facing ups and downs, Holger Rune undeniably retains immense potential. Brett Connors, in a recent statement, has offered a significant prophecy for the young talent in the upcoming 2024 season.
Presently holding the 8th position in men’s singles rankings, Rune encountered a challenging phase subsequent to reaching the Wimbledon Championships quarterfinals earlier this year. Post this achievement, he struggled, managing to win only one out of eight matches until a remarkable “comeback from almost nowhere” ensued, notably attributed to Becker’s guidance at the Swiss Indoors. Becker, renowned for his coaching tenure with Novak Djokovic, brings an invaluable wealth of experience and expertise to Rune’s camp.
Brett Connors expressed, “He’s got a Masters 1000 but hasn’t made a semifinal at a slam; I think that’s probably coming in 2024. I think him working with Boris is a really good mix. I know some people thought the styles might be different, but I don’t think it’s the tennis styles matching that need to be similar. It’s more the off-court stuff, the personality stuff, all the little intricacies of a game and a match.”
Expanding on the holistic preparation for matches, Connors continued, “Yeah, mental how you want to set up your season and schedule and how you want to, you know, maintain your body and get, you know, get it worked on and make sure you eat right. And all that stuff. I think Boris is gonna help him a lot. And I think Holger Rune is going to have a breakthrough year in 2024.”
Following Becker’s involvement, Rune attained semifinal berths in Basel and reached the quarterfinals of the Paris Masters. This surge in form earned him a maiden spot in the ATP Finals, marking a significant milestone in his career. Confirming his commitment, Rune has extended his partnership with Becker until the 2024 season, firmly positioning him as a player to watch out for in the upcoming year.
With Rune’s burgeoning potential and the invaluable mentorship of Boris Becker, the stage is set for an exciting and potentially groundbreaking year for the Danish tennis sensation in 2024.
Holger Rune in 2023
Ranked world no.8, the Dane played his last match on the 16th of November when he capitulated to world no.4 Jannik Sinner 6-2 5-7 6-4 in the round robin in the Nitto ATP Finals (draw).
Until now, during this year Rune owns a 44-24 match record. This year, Rune clinched 1 title in Munich. Holger was the finalist in Monte-Carlo and Rome.
Holger Rune |
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