Holger Rune has candidly acknowledged his shortcomings over the past few years, suggesting that some of his coaching decisions “were not the right fit.” The Danish tennis player, who concluded the 2022 season on a high note with four consecutive finals—including victories at the Stockholm Open and the Paris Masters—had set ambitious goals for 2023. After defeating Novak Djokovic in Paris, Rune, then 19, aimed to win a Grand Slam and reach the world No. 1 ranking. However, he fell short, managing only two quarterfinal appearances at Grand Slam events and securing just one title, the ATP 250 tournament in Munich.
In 2023, Rune’s Grand Slam performances included a first-round exit, a second-round finish, and two round-of-16 appearances. His lack of titles has seen him drop to No. 13 in the ATP rankings, outside the top 10. In contrast, 23-year-old Jannik Sinner and 21-year-old Carlos Alcaraz have dominated the season, splitting the Grand Slam titles between them.
Reflecting on his recent struggles, Rune told Tennis365, “Sometimes when you are winning, you think you should train the same, but everyone else trains so much harder because they want to beat you. I’m willing to improve and listen to my team to do what I need to do.” He acknowledged that he had not been putting in the necessary work over the past year and a half but is now committed to making the right adjustments. “Everyone can say they want to win a Grand Slam, but you need to put the right work in,” he emphasized.
In late 2023, Rune hired Boris Becker and added Severin Luthi, former coach of Roger Federer, to his team, marking a significant step in his coaching journey. However, following a surprising second-round loss to Arthur Cazaux at the Australian Open, Rune opted to part ways with both coaches within days. He has since reunited with his childhood coach, Lars Christensen, and is also working with Kenneth Carlsen.
When asked about his previous remark regarding not putting in the right work, Rune stated, “I can only blame myself because the decisions were all made by me. Every coach I’ve had has done their best for my tennis, but it’s about having the right people in your team who can help me improve my game, and I feel like I have that now.”
Rune’s game faced criticism from tennis legend Jim Courier during the Paris Masters semifinal, where he lost to Alexander Zverev. Courier described Rune’s play as “immature” and noted that he needed a “sense of order” to compete at the highest level. “It’s just all happening instinctively – it’s like a full-blown jazz exploration out here,” Courier remarked, emphasizing the need for consistency in Rune’s game.
As Rune looks ahead to 2025, it remains to be seen if he can rebound and compete for the sport’s most prestigious titles.
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