Boris Becker will coach Holger Rune for the rest of the season

DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) — After serving eight months in prison, Boris Becker, the six-time Grand Slam tennis winner, is making a comeback to coaching. This time, he will be working with the talented Danish player, Holger Rune, who is currently ranked sixth in the world.

In an interview with broadcaster Eurosport on Thursday, Becker expressed his pride at being approached by Rune. He revealed that there has been a longstanding connection between the two and that now feels like the perfect time to collaborate. Becker praised Rune’s commitment and passion on the tennis court, stating that he has always been interested in him.

Becker’s focus as a coach will be on the mental aspect of the game. He sees Rune as a “rough diamond that needs polishing” and believes he can help the young player reach his full potential.

Prior to coaching Rune, the 55-year-old German had a successful stint coaching Novak Djokovic from 2014 to 2016. However, Becker faced legal issues and spent eight months in prison for financial misconduct before his release in December.

Rune, who reached a career-high ranking of fourth in August, is the highest-ranked male Danish player in history. He has achieved impressive results, including reaching the quarterfinals of the French Open and Wimbledon.

Unfortunately, Rune’s performance has suffered recently, with only one victory since his loss at Wimbledon. He experienced early exits at the U.S. Open and Stockholm.

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis