Mere

American legend Agassi helps struggling Rune ahead of North American hardcourt season

Agassi making an appearance at the Royal box during Wimbledon
Agassi making an appearance at the Royal box during WimbledonDave Shopland / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia
American tennis legend, Andre Agassi, has helped Holger Rune in an effort to turn the struggling Dane's season around before the start of the North American hardcourt season.

Rune is currently ranked 13th in the world after a disappointing year where he has struggled to find his game.

He defeated Carlos Alcaraz to win the ATP 500 title in Barcelona and reached the ATP Masters 1000 final in Indian Wells, where he lost to Jack Draper.

But he has also suffered first-round defeats in no less than six tournaments this season, including in his last start at Wimbledon, where he fell in five sets to Nicolas Jarry.

“I've had a little bit of an up-and-down down year,” he said. ”I’ve had some good weeks, some bad weeks, and that’s what I'm trying to change. I’m thankful to be here in Washington to be able to start my US swing earlier to get matches and to get the rhythm, and hopefully do some damage", says Rune to the ATP website.

In order to turn the year around, Rune has held talks with Andre Agassi at the venue in Washington where the American Grand Slam winner won five of his 60 career titles.

“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,” 

“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.”

Rune said that he feels stronger following the short partnership.

“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,” he said.

“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. I’ve watched a lot of him on YouTube and his style and the way of playing was amazing. His career speaks for itself.”

The 22-year-old Dane will open his Washington campaign against Frenchman Alexandre Muller or a qualifier.