Becker back in business as coach of Rune

Boris Becker has picked up a fresh coaching gig, with the six-time Grand Slam winner confirming on Thursday that he is now working with Holger Rune.

Rumours had been flying around the grounds about the possible partnership between the 55-year-old who co-coached Novak Djokovic to six Grand Slam titles 2013-2016 and the headstrong Dane.

Rune lost as defending champion this week in Stockholm, with Becker providing advice remotely.

The pair had been seen in recent weeks working on court at the Monte Carlo Country Club, as both are based in the principality.

But Becker ended the suspense as he told Eurosport: “We’ve been in contact for a long time. Now it’s a great fit. 

“My calendar allows it, and I’ve always been interested in Holger because he’s on the tennis court with so much commitment and temperament. 

“I can confirm that I am Holger Rune’s coach,” 

The German who was released from a prison term in Britain last December after serving more than half a year for fraudulent bankruptcy, will share coaching duties of his 20-year-old charge with Rune’s mother Aneke.

“It makes me a little proud that he asked me,” Becker said. “Holger then invited me to a week of training in Monte Carlo. 

“I also had a long conversation there with his mother Aneke and his performance coach Lapo Becherini. The three of us are now responsible for Holger.”

The new pairing will get its first test next week at the Swiss Indoors in Basel, and the subsequent Paris Masters where the Dane is defending the title he won a year ago over Novak Djokovic.

The Dane is also in the chase for a spot in the eight-man ATP Finals in Turin.

“I made time for Basel, Paris and, if we manage it, Turin,” Becker said.

“Afterwards we sit down together and think about whether the tournaments were successful, whether he enjoyed it and whether I liked it.” 

He added: “There’s no point in signing a two-year contract now if you’re only going to cooperate for a week. 

“If success occurs, we usually stay together, no matter what the contract says. If not, everyone goes their own way. That’s the status quo,”