"Got to understand a guy Becker's age also has a life": Other priorities likely behind Holger Rune coach split believes Jimmy Connors
ATPSunday, 11 February 2024 at 21:30
Jimmy
Connors has given his take on Boris Becker's resignation from Holger Rune's
coaching team after just four months. The German coach joined Rune's team in
October 2023 during a turbulent period for the Danish player, who had exited in
the first round of the US Open, signaling the end of his partnership with
French coach Patrick Mouratoglou.
Becker was
involved in Rune's off-season preparations but wasn't as present during the
Brisbane International and the Australian Open. However, he did make
appearances as a commentator during the televised broadcasts of the
tournaments.
The recent
surprising news revealed that they would no longer be working together after
only a few months. Becker cited personal commitments as the reason for not
being able to continue coaching Rune:
“I would
like to inform you that I will step down as the head coach of Holger Rune with
immediate effect,” Becker wrote on his X account (former Twitter). “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 n.1 fan,” the
German former world No. 1 wrote.
Jimmy Connors weighed in on the Rune – Becker split:
Former
tennis player Jimmy Connors discussed the topic in the latest episode of his
podcast, Advantage Connors, reflecting on his time as a coach: "I
know when I was with Andy Roddick, I was on the road a lot, going to different
tournaments and being gone for 4, 5, 6 weeks in a row and going to Grand Slams,
so it's a commitment," Connors said.
"I'm
sure that [Holger] Rune saw what Boris [Becker] could bring to the table and
how he could help improve him. But, on the other hand, he's got to understand a
guy Becker's age has also a life," the American continued.
Rune’s coaching carousel
Even though
Becker stepped in to fill Mouratoglou's role, Rune already had Roger Federer's
former coach, Severin Luthi, as the head coach. This required them to
collaborate in training the current world No. 7, which may have been one of the
reasons for the separation from Mouratoglou.
Becker was
absent from Rune's team during the Australian Open, and the Danish player (8th
seed in Melbourne) experienced disappointment with an early exit in the second
round, despite being seeded 8th. Following the tournament, Aneke Rune, Rune's
mother and representative, announced that Luthi would no longer be part of the
coaching team.
"Don't
want to make a big deal out of it, but the timing with Severin [Luthi] was
clearly not right. It would be too few weeks for Severin to be able to cover
for the continuity that Holger needs," Aneke told Danish newspaper Ekstra
Bladet.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
claps 0visitors 0
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- This article is SPOT ON!!!Rapunzel04-09-2026
- This article is SPOT ON!!!Rapunzel04-09-2026
- Is there no one in Pro Tennis willing to give this one some form of intervention before she crashes??
mandoist04-09-2026 - Double Standards for the male players? Gross. BTW: This "apology" reads like the one his lawyers wrote for him when he had to go to the Kangaroo Court for slapping his girlfriend around.mandoist04-09-2026
- From Day One, legalizing Sports Betting was never going to end well (for The Sport... not just the thousands who lose their livelihoods and bank accounts). We're not even close to the end of the damage this is causing.mandoist03-09-2026
- From Day One, legalizing Sports Betting was never going to end well (for The Sport... not the thousands who lose their livelihoods and bank accounts). We're not even close to the end of the damage this is causing.mandoist03-09-2026
- In her defense... she has no "defense" and likely could not articulate it if she did.mandoist03-09-2026
- Someone is not enjoying her gradual slide down the rankings, which became noticeable last season. BTW: That reporter's on to something familiar -- the effects of Social Media Stardom on one's Second Priority (Tennis). Shades of Bouchard, Giorgi, Raducanu, etc.mandoist03-09-2026
- Sabalenka seems so unhappy. When you get angry after every mistake you make on court, you’ve got some issues sweetie! She also does seem to be “partying” a lot if you follow her social media (I don’t lolol). Very immature personality.DaveyWavey03-09-2026
- The main difference for bigger names like Alcaraz, Sinner, Zverez, etc. is that they usually make it to the later stages of tournaments while 99% of the other players win a round or two and then move on to the next tournament. The bigger names are playing more, playing longer and therefore more injury issues. The money is great but it all comes with a price!DaveyWavey03-09-2026
Loading
