Top analyst warns why Holger Rune should not be underestimated at ATP Finals
Former world No 2 Alex Corretja has warned “fearless” Holger Rune should not be underestimated at the 2023 ATP Finals ahead of his opening match against Novak Djokovic.
The two-time French Open finalist also believes tennis legend Boris Becker will prove to be a great influence on Rune’s career given his understanding of being a huge star.
Rune will begin his debut campaign at the 2023 ATP Finals in Turin against world No 1 and defending champion Djokovic on Sunday night. Jannik Sinner and Stefanos Tsitsipas are the other two players in the Green Group.
Former world No 1 Becker, a three-time winner of the ATP Finals, started working last month as the new coach of the 20-year-old Dane, who had split with Patrick Mouratoglou.
Becker coached Djokovic between 2014 and 2016 – during which time the Serb won six Grand Slam titles and 14 ATP Masters 1000 tournaments.
Since Becker’s arrival, Rune has bounced back from a difficult run of form to reach the semi-finals at the Swiss Indoors in Basel and the quarter-finals at last week’s Paris Masters, where he fell to eventual champion Djokovic in three sets.
Speaking in an interview with Eurosport, Corretja analysed what six-time Major champion Becker will offer Rune and asserted that the partnership will be a big success.
READ MORE: You’ll never guess which Wimbledon champion has backed Holger Rune for ATP Finals glory
“You know why? Because Holger feels like a big star. I think you need to have someone next to you that gives you the feeling that he knows what you feel. And Boris Becker, for sure, he feels that way, too. I mean, he was a superstar. He’s still a superstar,” said the Spaniard.
“I think when Holger talks about his expectations of winning Majors or becoming No 1 or whatever, if he has Boris Becker next to him, who he’s been there, he’s been the best, and he’s been also a huge and great coach.
“He’s understanding him and he’s not going to look at him as if he is being cocky or arrogant. No, he’s looking at him and answers: ‘Yes, we can do that, and I’m going to help you to do that.’ And the start of the relationship has been great. It’s been great because you don’t need to win right away, like every match you play.
“I think it’s good when you lose one of the matches also to understand that the process needs a little bit of time and the ideas and the mentality that he’s trying to bring will need a little bit of time to assimilate. This is the best.
“When it takes a little bit of time, it costs you and you appreciate it more. So I think the Rune-Becker combination, it’s an absolute bomb and it’s absolutely great for both of them.”
The commentator also suggested that Rune’s motivation and the positive feelings he has gained since linking up with Becker could give him an edge in Turin.
“I think among all the players in the field, I think Rune might be the one that feels more, let’s say, enthusiastic or more motivated or more happy that the ATP Finals is coming,” assessed Corretja.
“I think he’s a little bit refreshed. He’s had tough moments during the year with some injuries. It wasn’t good. The summer time he struggled a little bit and then he found this combination with Boris. So you see him again, he’s healthy and he’s fresh.
“And for sure, every practice he goes to, he’s got Boris Becker next to him telling him things that are new for him. And this is something that I think might give him an extra feeling of power.
“Don’t underestimate Holger because he’s fearless. He doesn’t care about playing Djokovic in the first round. He’s going to go there thinking that he can do well. That doesn’t mean that he’s going to win the tournament, but that means that he’s got so much confidence in himself.”
READ MORE: Novak Djokovic told which player is his ‘biggest threat’ at ATP Finals by former world No 4
