World No. 9 Holger Rune says his brief three-day training block with tennis legend Andre Agassi in Washington, D.C., has provided fresh insight and renewed belief, which he hopes to convert into strong results during the critical North American hard‑court summer swing, including Toronto and preparation for the U.S. Open.
Rune’s season so far has been a mix of breakthroughs and setbacks. After winning the Paris Masters in a stunning run where he defeated five top-ten players—including Novak Djokovic—he added just two more titles and has failed to reach the quarter‑finals at any Grand Slam since. Meanwhile, rivals such as Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have surged, claiming multiple major titles and consistently dominating the big stages.
Believing he needed a fresh perspective, Rune reached out to Agassi earlier this month. Their collaboration began with a text message and phone call and culminated in a hands‑on, three‑day training stint in Washington just before the Mubadala Citi DC Open. Although the American legend isn’t officially part of Rune’s team—his long-term coach Lars Christensen remains in charge—the sessions with Agassi were valued highly by both championship‑winning veteran and player.
Rune described the experience as enlightening. “It was insane. I’ve never met a guy who sees tennis that way and I found it interesting,” he told the Tennis Channel during the Canadian Open.. In particular, Agassi’s emphasis on simplifying the game, optimizing shot selection and tempering Rune’s power with efficiency resonated deeply: “He wanted my tennis to be a bit slower and make things easier with my power and quality of shots,” Rune explained.
Even during a casual practice set, Rune was struck by Agassi’s court vision. When asked how much it would take that his practice opponent would serve wide, Agassi’s prediction proved accurate—and symbolic of his intuitive grasp of strategy
The Dane emphasized that although the block was short, the clarity gained was significant. “He helped me to get my focus and my eyes on the right things, together with my coach Lars,” Rune noted. He also stressed that the partnership is exploratory, with the possibility of further collaboration depending on outcomes.
Looking ahead, Rune is now competing in the Canadian Open, fresh off a win over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard that sets up a third-round clash with Alexandre Muller. With Grand Slam points at stake and a packed schedule ahead, Rune is seeking stability and consistency—qualities Agassi emphasized during their sessions
- Mental clarity and simplified strategy: Agassi encouraged Rune to rely less on brute force and more on tactical control—slowing the game when helpful and maximizing shot quality rather than increasing tempo unnecessarily.
- Enhanced return game: Agassi, one of the greatest returners in tennis history, imparted tips to sharpen Rune’s own return—an area Rune already considers a strength.
- Fresh perspective on tiebreaks and match play: Rune was surprised by Agassi’s understanding of probabilities and patterns in pressure moments like tiebreaks—a mindset shift he expects to benefit him in tight situations.
Rune’s path forward remains challenging. Although he claimed the ATP 500 title in Barcelona by beating Alcaraz, his Grand Slam results have fallen short, with early exits at the Australian Open, Roland-Garros, and Wimbledon. That inconsistency, coupled with back issues that forced him to withdraw from Washington, has disrupted his rhythm.
But with Agassi’s input and his established coaching base with Lars Christensen, Rune hopes to convert high potential into sustained results. “I believe I can be number 1, and he can help me achieve it,” Rune said, underlining his ambition and confidence in his new summer approach.
As the Canadian Open unfolds and the U.S. Open looms from August 24, all eyes will be on Rune to see if this short but profound mentorship with Agassi becomes a pivot point in his bid to break through at the Grand Slam level and challenge the dominance of Alcaraz and Sinner.
