Boris Becker ‘problem’ that will ‘limit people wanting to hire him’ raised after Holger Rune split
Tennis commentator Mark Petchey believes that Boris Becker’s passport limitations could be a problem for his coaching ambitions after his split with Holger Rune.
The former ATP player pointed out that Becker will likely struggle to enter countries where at least two Grand Slams are held and thinks this will “limit people wanting to hire him.”
Former world No 1 Becker announced on Wednesday he had stepped down as Rune’s coach due to his inability to spend enough time working with the 20-year-old.
“I would like to inform you that I will step down as the head coach of Holger Rune with immediate effect,” the six-time Grand Slam champion wrote on X / Twitter.
“We started this partnership with the initial goal to reach the ATP Finals end of last year but moving forward I realised that in order for this to be successful, I would need to be available for Holger much more than I can.
“Due to professional and private responsibilities, I can’t give Holger what he needs now. I wish him only the very best and I’m always going to be his No 1 fan. I truly appreciated this journey together.”
READ MORE: Holger Rune lifts the lid on his shock split with Boris Becker
Becker’s departure came just a week after Rune parted ways with Swiss coach Severin Luthi, who had only started working with him in December ahead of the 2024 season.
Luthi, who coached Roger Federer from 2007 until his retirement in 2022, was with Rune at the 2024 Australian Open last month, where the Dane was upset by French wildcard Arthur Cazaux in the second round.
Becker did not travel with Rune for the Melbourne Grand Slam and worked as an analyst for Eurosport in Germany during the event. It is possible the German was unable to enter Australia due to his 2022 criminal conviction for hiding assets and loans to avoid paying debts, although this has not been confirmed.
During a discussion on Tennis Channel, it was pointed out by host Brett Haber that Becker’s passport limitations could be preventing him from entering certain countries.
.@AriasTennis and @_MarkPetchey share their honest thoughts on a second coach departing Team Rune within a week 😬@BrettHaber | #TCLive pic.twitter.com/eJhsGUdOPJ
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) February 7, 2024
Petchey replied: “I think that’s a very fair point. Of course, that is going to be a problem going forward for Boris. I don’t know what the situation here in the US is in terms of the rules, you know, having got that record.
“The reality for Boris is that is going to be a part of the problem for him if he does want go coaching. Because there’s at least probably two majors where he is going to struggle to get to, so that is going to limit people wanting to hire him.”
Becker served eight months of his sentence in a British prison and was deported to Germany after being granted an early release in December 2022.
The 56-year-old will not be able to return to the UK until October 2024 at the earliest under the terms of his release from jail, meaning he will be unable to attend this year’s Wimbledon Championships.
