Holger Rune shares the part of his game that Andre Agassi ‘loved’ so much he had no advice to give

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Holger Rune has been the talk of tennis over the last few weeks, ever since he was spotted working with Andre Agassi.

The 55-year-old, who won eight Grand Slam titles across a glittering career in tennis, is one of the sport’s most heralded names.

After all, not only was he a phenomenal player, but his story and analytical view of the game make everything about him that much more compelling.

So, for any player to get the chance to pick his brain, it was bound to create headlines.

Not least Rune, who has struggled to live up to the weight of expectation over recent years.

Holger Rune reveals the area of his game that Andre Agassi loved

Speaking to Tennis Channel after his really impressive first-round win at the Canadian Open, of course, attention had to turn back to his brief spell working with Andre Agassi since Wimbledon.

Asked what he had learned, Rune was naturally effusive in his praise for the American tennis legend, beginning by stating: “It was insane, you know, as I have also said, I’ve never met a guy who sees tennis that way, and I found it very interesting.

“You know, he makes things very, very simple in the court, you know. I think, you know, sometimes tennis can be a very difficult sport. Sometimes it can be a very easy sport, but there’s always a reason for why it’s that or that.

“And I think, you know, some of the advice he gave me was very helpful and also to share those three days and for him to get a look at my game, it was just amazing, you know, and also, you know, with my coach, he really appreciated it. They talked a little bit also, and you know, we’re still in touch. He actually messaged me after the match today, so it was nice.”

Agassi was, mid-way through his career, famed for adopting the ideals of the great Brad Gilbert and aiming to ‘win ugly’. Rune was questioned about whether that had rubbed off on him at all.

“Definitely,” he began. “You know, every time I start talking about, oh, I feel like that, I feel like that.

And he’s like, remember, there’s a guy there, you know, there’s a guy on the other side, and maybe he feels terrible, you know, you never know.

“So it’s all about playing what you have, you know, also hiding, if you don’t feel well, and making it uncomfortable for your opponent, you know, sometimes you don’t have it straight in the sweet spot, but you can still take it early and play deep. So, you know, that’s also tough for the opponent.

“So, you know, a lot of those things and, you know, also not feeling that I have to play at 90, 100% to win a match, you know, I can also win on, 70, 75, you know, I think a lot of interesting things, and I think I learned a lot. It was a lot of good information for me.”

Finally, asked about his return of serve, Rune firmly stated: “He loved my second serve return. He was like, That’s the one. No advice there.”

This is not the only coaching aid he has received of late, with Rune hiring a former fitness coach of Jannik Sinner’s as well.

Holger Rune has the game to challenge Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner

There’s no reason why, with a few tweaks and a boost of confidence, Rune cannot start regularly challenging Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s duopoly over men’s tennis.

After all, he was always pitted to be a part of a new generation of dominance, with that expectation perhaps one reason for his lack of progression in recent years.

He has an explosive, all-court game, but has perhaps lacked the focus needed to become a genuine threat for the game’s elite titles.

With Agassi’s guidance though, that could soon become a possibility.

Especially given his head-to-head record against both Alcaraz and Sinner, which reaffirms his status as a player capable of challenging the very best.

Having beaten the Spaniard in the Barcelona final this year, he has tied their tally at two wins apiece, whilst he narrowly trails the world number one, having lost three but won two.