Holger Rune hoping to ‘steal’ Novak Djokovic secrets from coach Boris Becker

Ewan West
Novak Djokovic and Holger Rune
Novak Djokovic and Holger Rune after the Paris Masters final

Holger Rune has admitted “it would be good to steal a bit” of information about Novak Djokovic from new coach Boris Becker after the German’s successful spell working with the Serbian. 

The world No 6 declared he was “excited” to learn from Becker and revealed the tennis great was teaching him things that are “basic but important.”

It was confirmed this week that Rune had added Becker to his coaching team, having spent last week training with the six-time Grand Slam champion.

Becker coached Djokovic between 2014 and 2016 – during which time the legendary Serb won six Grand Slam titles and 14 ATP Masters 1000 tournaments.

Rune has won two of his three encounters with Djokovic, having lost the pair’s first clash at the 2021 US Open. The 20-year-old edged the 24-time major winner in an entertaining three-set final at the 2022 Paris Masters, before again prevailing in three sets in this year’s Italian Open quarter-finals.

Since Wimbledon in July, Rune has lost 10 of his last 11 matches during a difficult run, having struggled with a back injury. The Dane will face Miomir Kecmanovic in his opening match at the Swiss Indoors in Basel next week, having been beaten 6-7(3), 2-6 by the Serb in Stockholm this week.

Rune is the top seed in Basel, where fellow top 10 stars Casper Ruud and Taylor Fritz will also be in action. He reached the final of the event last year, losing to Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets.

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Speaking on Saturday ahead of his appearance in Switzerland, Rune recognised the value of taking lessons from Becker and other tennis champions.

“It’s great to learn from players like (Boris) and from Rafa [Nadal], Roger [Federer] and Novak,” said the Dane in an interview prior to the ATP 500 tournament.

“It would be good to steal a bit from what they did. They got so many things right. Boris did well as a coach of Djokovic and as a player. I’m excited to hear what he has to say.

“Boris is teaching me things that are basic but important. It’s gonna be nice, you’ll see. I hope he can give me as much advice as possible and help me to do better.”

Rune also addressed the fact that – as it stands – Becker will not be able to accompany him to Wimbledon next year. The former world No 1 is currently banned from entering the UK under the terms of his release from jail.

“I didn’t think about that. I know the rules (laws) of course. It’s not a big problem and it would be great if he can go, but let’s see,” said the 20-year-old.

Becker was jailed for two-and-a-half years in April 2022 for being found guilty of hiding £2.5million in assets and loans to avoid paying debts and declaring himself bankrupt.

The 55-year-old served eight months of his sentence and was deported to Germany after being granted an early release from prison in December last year.

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