Holger Rune, one of tennis’ brightest young stars, has experienced a turbulent yet fascinating journey in his early career. Despite the rapid rise that saw him reach a career-high world ranking of No. 4, Rune has gone through a series of coaching changes and injury setbacks. Yet, even amidst these challenges, the 21-year-old Dane remains optimistic, claiming he has no regrets over the coaching carousel that has characterized much of his early career.
Rune’s breakthrough came in 2022 when he shocked the tennis world by winning the Paris Masters. In an extraordinary run, he defeated five top-10 players in succession, including a victory over Novak Djokovic in the final. The win put Rune firmly in the spotlight as one of the game’s next big stars. However, as quickly as his star rose, Rune found himself facing difficulties that many young players encounter on their way to the top, including injuries and a struggle to find the right coaching fit.
While his rise to world No. 4 was remarkable, it came during a period when several top players were unable to defend their rankings due to injuries or inconsistent play. Rune himself acknowledges that his climb in the rankings was somewhat assisted by these circumstances. Nevertheless, his immense talent and potential have always been evident, and many believe that, with the right guidance and stability, he can achieve even greater success.
One of the most prominent aspects of Rune’s career so far has been his frequent changes in coaching. After long stints with various coaches, including high-profile names like Patrick Mouratoglou and Boris Becker, Rune has now settled into what appears to be a more stable partnership with Lars Christensen. Interestingly, Christensen is not new to Rune’s world—he has been a familiar figure in Rune’s tennis life since his childhood. The duo first worked together during Rune’s early years in the sport, and reuniting with him may provide the young star with the sense of continuity and comfort he needs to find his best form.
Despite having cycled through several elite coaches, Rune insists he has no regrets about his journey so far. In fact, he views his time with each coach as a valuable learning experience. “I have learned a lot from each coach,” Rune said when reflecting on his coaching changes. “After working with the same coach for 15 years, I think it was important for me to try something different and get inspiration from other coaches to then figure out what was best for my game and my career.”
Rune’s comment highlights his mature perspective on his career. While many players find a single coaching partnership and stick with it for years, Rune took the unconventional path of working with multiple world-class coaches. From Mouratoglou, who has famously coached Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka, to Boris Becker, a six-time Grand Slam champion, Rune has undoubtedly benefited from exposure to various styles and approaches to the game. “Now I have tried different approaches, and they have all given me inspiration,” he explained. “In the end, they either work or they don’t.”
That Rune is now partnered with Christensen signals a potential turning point in his career. Stability can often be a critical factor for young players trying to establish themselves at the top levels of tennis. Rune himself has admitted that he is “much wiser now” about what works for him and what doesn’t. He seems to have a clearer understanding of what he needs to maximize his potential moving forward.
However, Rune’s current challenges are not limited to finding the right coach. The injuries that have plagued him in recent months have also hampered his progress. His performances have been inconsistent, and he has struggled to replicate the magic of his 2022 Paris Masters run. His loss to Carlos Alcaraz at the 2023 Shanghai Masters, where he was soundly defeated 6-4, 6-2, was a stark reminder of the gap that still exists between him and the very best in the game. Rune’s Danish rival Alcaraz, who is just six days younger than him, has already won four Grand Slam titles and continues to dominate the ATP Tour.
Alcaraz and Rune were once viewed as two rising stars destined to battle for supremacy in the years to come. While Alcaraz has more than lived up to that billing, Rune has found it harder to maintain his momentum. After his Shanghai defeat, Rune acknowledged that there is still a long way to go if he is to consistently challenge the likes of Alcaraz and other top players like Jannik Sinner, who demolished Daniil Medvedev in just 68 minutes during the same tournament.
Reflecting on the match, Rune noted that his loss to Alcaraz was a “brutal reality check,” showing just how far he still has to go to reach the upper echelon of the sport. However, Rune remains determined to continue learning, improving, and growing as a player. His new partnership with Christensen may be the key to unlocking his full potential, as the familiarity and trust between the two could provide the foundation Rune needs to climb back up the rankings.
Ultimately, Holger Rune’s career is still in its early stages, and while he has encountered several challenges, his willingness to adapt and learn from every experience suggests that his best days are still ahead of him. With the right guidance, stability, and a bit of luck with his health, Rune has all the tools to be a force in the tennis world for years to come. The journey may have had its ups and downs so far, but Rune’s talent and drive make him a player to watch closely as he continues to carve out his place among the game’s elite.