Boris Becker and Holger Rune gesture gives first glimpse of coaching impact
Boris Becker’s partnership with Holger Rune got off to a roaring start at the Swiss Indoors when the 20-year-old stormed back from a set down to earn just his second match win in three months. Rune’s 1-6 7-5 6-3 victory over Miomir Kecmanovic marked the first time that his new coach Becker sat in his box. The German’s immediate impact on Rune’s results was clear as he could be seen gesturing to the top seed during the match.
Becker recently announced that he would be working with Rune in what is his first coaching role since being released from prison last December. The world No 6 has been struggling for form of late and, before this week, he went 1-6 in matches following a run to the Wimbledon quarter-final.
But he managed to turn things around after losing the first set to Kecmanovic just 26 minutes on Tuesday night, earning his first win with Becker in his box. After joining Rune’s team, the 55-year-old said that the Dane needed to learn to channel his emotions positively – and Rune did just that as he came from behind to advance in Basel.
The four-time title winner explained that he was able to change his mindset during the tough contest as Becker was seen gesturing at Rune to remind him to keep his emotions in check. “The match was not so good in the beginning, but it ended in the best possible way,” last year’s Swiss Indoors runner-up said. “I was able to raise my level and find my focus. I’m super happy with how I managed my emotions.”
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The four-time title winner explained that he was able to change his mindset during the tough contest in Basel, adding: “I started believing in my shots, asking myself to remember what I’m capable of, trying to raise my level. I wanted to stay in the match and give myself a chance to play better.”
It comes after Becker explained that using his emotions in a positive way would be key for Rune. “It’s an exciting task because it’s also an exciting time. If (Holger) can put his emotions into positive use, nothing will stand in his way,” he said earlier in the week.
Rune’s problem-solving against Kecmanovic has already shown Becker’s impact on his game with an immediate result. The world No 6 had lost a match to Kecmanovic just six days earlier, crashing out to the Serb at the Stockholm Open.
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The win also boosted Rune’s chances of qualifying for the ATP Finals. He is currently eighth in the race to Turin – 90 points ahead of ninth-place Taylor Fritz – with the top eight players making the cut. When Becker announced that he would be working with the 20-year-old, he said his big task would be to help Rune make it to the season-ending championships.
“I will be there in Basel at the latest, and afterwards, I will play Paris-Bercy with Holger – and hopefully help him to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin. That is the big goal and that is the task,” Becker told Eurosport Germany.
Team Rune could well still make it to Turin by the end of the year. As well as this week’s Swiss Indoors, Rune is entered in the Paris Masters – where he is the defending champion – and the Moselle Open in Metz.
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