Holger Rune will be hoping to bounce back from a disappointing few weeks when he competes at the Washington Open this week.
The 22-year-old has struggled in the last month, losing in the first round of Wimbledon to Nicolas Jarry, albeit while suffering with an injury.
The Dane has not quite lived up to the expectations set for him so far. He was once mentioned with the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner as future stars of the game.
Rune has undoubtedly shown flashes of his brilliance. For example, he came through a marathon match against Novak Djokovic to win the 2022 Paris Masters.
However, there are hopes Rune could return to this sparkling form with the help of eight-time Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi. The American has been spotted working on court with Rune during the Washington Open.
Another American great, Andy Roddick, has weighed in on Rune and Agassi’s burgeoning partnership
Andy Roddick says he likes the partnership because ‘Andre doesn’t need a job’
Speaking on his podcast, Served with Andy Roddick, the American was candid about his positive feelings in respect of Agassi’s work with Rune.
Roddick said: “The number one reason why I like this, is because Andre doesn’t need the job.
“And every other person who has kissed Holger’s ass and asked him for a job, has needed that job.
“I think you’re going to get honest feedback at an inflection point in someone’s career who obviously has the talent but maybe lacks the consistency that he might want.
“I’m sure they didn’t sign a two year deal. I’m sure it’s like ‘hey, let’s get some input. Let’s see if we can’t course correct. Let’s see if you can’t tap into my experiences, the things I did right and the things I did wrong.’ Which are sometimes more important and Holger is going to listen to Andre Agassi.
“Now, I don’t know if it works, I don’t know whatever else and I don’t know that that’s always been the case.
“Number one thing, Andre doesn’t need this job so I think what he says will maybe land with Holger Rune a little bit more.”
Who will Holger Rune face in the Washington Open second round?
The Dane is seeded at three in Washington, behind Taylor Fritz and Lorenzo Musetti. This seeding has given him a bye to the second round, where he will face Alexandre Muller.
Muller is no slouch. The big-hitting Frenchman stunned Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon first round, saving a multitude of break points before winning the second set.
Although Muller went on to lose the match, he demonstrated the grit required to play at the top level. In the Washington Open first round, the French star beat qualifier Beibit Zhukayev, winning 6-4 6-4.
Rune’s inconsistent form has plagued him throughout 2025, and he must be wary of another upset when he plays Muller on Wednesday morning.
