Holger Rune lifts lid on sensational coach link-up after turning to tennis legend

Holger Rune has spoken out after enjoying a blockbuster coaching trial with retired tennis icon Andre Agassi. At the end of last week, the eight-time Major winner suddenly showed up at the Citi Open in Washington and was seen on the practice court with the world No. 9, sparking surprise across the tennis world.

Rune has now explained how their three-day training block came to be, admitting that he reached out to Agassi months ago. And the 22-year-old is keen on forming a longer-term partnership.

"It was nice. We've been in touch for a while and we did a couple of days together here in Washington, where he was helping me with a few things, giving his opinion," the Dane told the ATP.

"It was really a big pleasure. He's a very, very wise man. I've never met a guy who sees the game this way.

"Obviously he had an amazing return himself and I also return well and he had a few tips there and how I can be slightly better there and then in general about the game.

"It was a really short period but definitely he gave me an insight of where he sees me in the future, where he sees me now and obviously there's a lot of things to improve. He helped me to get my focus and my eyes on the right things, together with my coach Lars [Christensen]. It was really cool to spend some days with him."

It's not known if and when Rune will link up with Agassi again, but the 22-year-old made it clear that he "would definitely like that."

It was the world No. 9 who made the first move with a text message, and then a phone call, and the pair are still in touch.

"I reached out to him some months ago," he told Tennis.com. "He sees the game in a unique way that I've never experienced before.

"I obviously have big potential and I know I can do a lot better. He was trying to help me achieve that.

"We're still in contact and everything, so those three days was a kind of beginning of feeling things out, him giving me some advice, and me trying to do it on the court to see how it feels. It was just very exciting to see his point of view."

Rune still has a full-time coach in Christensen and sees Agassi as more of a mentor. The 22-year-old will be hoping that the tennis legend's influence on his game will shine through when he faces Alexandre Muller in the first round of the ATP 500 in Washington.

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