Google News
World no. 5 Holger Rune will lead the draw at the next week's Stockholm ATP 250 event. Holger trained this week in Monte Carlo, with a six-time Major champion Boris Becker working with him! It's an interesting combo, and we shall see if they will start the official cooperation now that Patrick Mouratoglou is no longer in the Dane's team.
Becker spent three years with Novak Djokovic, leading the Serb toward 25 titles between 2014 and 2016, including six Majors and 14 Masters 1000 titles. Holger reached the Wimbledon quarter-final in July, losing to Carlos Alcaraz and kicking off a terrible streak.
The young gun has won only one match in the following five tournaments, struggling to play injury-free but still cracking the top-4. Rune will seek a better result in Stockholm next week, refusing to take a break after a terrible loss to Brandon Nakashima in Shanghai.
Holger experienced a 6-0, 6-2 defeat in 69 minutes, losing for the seventh time in the previous eight encounters! The American played against one break point, defending it and keeping the pressure on the other side. Rune gave away over half of the points in his games, offering his rival 14 break chances and getting broken five times.
Holger sprayed 24 unforced errors and experienced a massive blow in the shortest rallies up to four strokes.
Holger Rune trained with Boris Becker in Monte Carlo.
Rune denied two break points in the encounter's first game with winners.
The young gun wasted a game point and hit a double fault on the third break chance, experiencing an early setback. Nakashima pushed strong on the return again in the third game, earning four break points and seizing the last after Rune's wild forehand to move in front.
The Dane netted a backhand in the fifth game, finding himself 5-0 behind and allowing the American to serve for the opener. Brandon landed a smash winner at the net for a bagel in 29 minutes, doing everything right and leaving erratic Holger miles behind.
The Dane ended his terrible streak at the beginning of the second set before losing serve again at 1-1, showing frustration. The 20-year-old lost serve again in the fifth game, falling 4-1 behind and closer to the exit door.
Rune served to stay in the match in game seven and erased a match point with a volley winner. Nakashima served for the victory at 5-2 and caused Rune's error for a match point. He squandered it before converting the second with a service winner to celebrate a career-best victory.
Holger will try to finish the season on a high note at the remaining indoor events, and Boris Becker might join his team.