'It’s still ongoing': Holger Rune continues to get valuable input from Andre Agassi

Holger Rune spoke about his recent association with former world No. 1 Andre Agassi, after working with the American for a couple of weeks before the hardcourt swing began. The Dane had stated that it was only a temporary relationship, but in his return to the Cincinnati Open, he assured that they are still messaging each other and he continues to receive messages from the eight-time Grand Slam champion.

Rune was full of praise for Agassi after the time he spent with him in training. The former world No. 4 has made some changes with the goal of returning to his best level and taking a step forward on the Tour, with his work alongside Agassi and the hiring of Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner’s former physical trainer, Marco Panichi.

Holger Rune suffered a painful defeat in the first round of Wimbledon in late June, after being two sets up against Nicolas Jarry he ended up falling in a five-set battle (6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 3-6, 4-6) in a tournament where he was the eighth seed and arrived with great aspirations.

The former Paris Masters champion had several weeks out of competition and received a wildcard to enter the DC Open, although an injury prevented him from playing in the tournament. In any case, he traveled to Washington and spent more than a week working with Agassi, and although Rune acknowledged that he would like a long-term association, it was more of a consultation during his time in the city.

"It's rarely congratulations": Rune explains Agassi's hands-on approach to coaching

Rune returned to the courts at the Canadian Open—without Agassi—and advanced to the quarterfinals, falling to the defending champion Alexei Popyrin a week ago. This time he returned at the Cincinnati Open, getting a hard-fought victory against the Russian Roman Safiulin (7-5, 7-6).

After overcoming the first challenge in Cincinnati, Rune spoke about his relationship with Agassi and the advice he continues to give him from a distance. “It’s still ongoing. We’re still chatting a little bit on the phone,” Rune mentioned on Tennis Channel. “He just messaged me also after my match, so it’s nice. He’s such a nice guy as I’ve said.”

“And also we spoke a little bit after Toronto as well, what I can do better, and we had some talk on the phone, small specific things that, you know, I can make it easier for myself and play better. So it’s always nice to share thoughts through him.”

He was then asked if he had received congratulations from Agassi, but he acknowledged that it is more about recommendations on what he should improve. “It’s rarely congratulations [laughing] but it is also some very nice messages,” Rune said. “But it’s much more about the game, what he sees, you know. I think I don’t need any person to be there just to congratulate me and this is what I really appreciate about him as well, that he’s really there."

"He’s so much into tennis and into all the small things happening. You know, he remembers points, you know, that I also remember, but I’m sure you know if you talk to probably the whole of my team they don’t remember the points,” the world No. 9 added. “So he’s so much into it, which is amazing. So I think it’s just really exciting to share this view with him.”

Rune secured his spot in the third round of the tournament, where he will face the 28th seed Alex Michelsen for the first time in his career. The American overcame his debut in three sets against the Frenchman Corentin Moutet and will be looking to take another step in the tournament as a local. Michelsen arrives after reaching the quarterfinals at the Canadian Open, his best appearance in a Masters 1000 tournament so far.

Match Statistics Safiullin vs. Rune