Holger Rune will be looking to bounce back this week after a difficult couple of months on the ATP Tour.
The Dane was branded as immature during his Queen’s Club campaign, before losing in the first round of Wimbledon to qualifier Nicolas Jarry, despite being two sets to love ahead. Rune later said he was suffering from an injury during the match.
Rune’s woes were then compounded when he was forced to withdraw from the Washington Open due to an issue with his back.
However, there have been silver linings for the young Dane in recent weeks. The 22-year-old has been working with eight-time Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi and has hired Novak Djokovic’s former fitness coach.
The same fitness coach had worked with Jannik Sinner this year, before parting ways ahead of Wimbledon.
Holger Rune says Marco Panichi has ‘spectacular talent’
Holger Rune will be hoping his recent hiring of Marco Panichi will assist in progressing at the Canadian Open.
Panichi worked with Novak Djokovic for seven years between 2017 and 2024, while also collaborating with Jannik Sinner for nine months.
After receiving a bye in the first round, Rune faces big-serving Giovanni Mpetshi-Perricard in the Canadian Open second round. The Frenchman is a force to be reckoned with, having pushed Taylor Fritz to five sets in the first round of Wimbledon.
Speaking to Dutch broadcaster Ziggo Sport, Rune spoke of his recent work with Agassi and his hiring of Panichi.
Rune said: First of all, I did have a fitness coach but… I’ve tried a few others. I tried a few days with Marco down in Monaco and for me it was very very challenging fitness training routine.
“It was not only about getting stronger, lifting weights because that’s not what tennis is about. Obviously you need a certain strength but it’s a lot about the coordination, the biomechanics and I think he challenged me in a different way that I haven’t tried before.
“And obviously his experience working so many years with Novak and a little time with Sinner… I really see the connection of fitness and tennis and I think he has a spectacular talent for that so I’m very excited to work with him.”
Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner on Marco Panichi
After splitting with Panichi in 2024, Novak Djokovic was full of praise for his former fitness coach.
On Instagram, Djokovic said: “Grande Marco, what amazing years of collaboration we’ve had. We reached the summit, won titles, broken records. But most of all, I have enjoyed our most ‘ordinary’ days of training in and out of the gym.
“Endless hours of ‘carciofini’ and laughs that made me feel super motivated to prepare for success. Grazie Romanista (as Goran calls you) for all the energy, effort and time you invested in making me the best possible player and person I can be.
“Much love and I will see you soon in Roma. Forzaaaa.”
Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner was less open about his relationship with his compatriot after they parted ways before Wimbledon.
Speaking at his pre-Wimbledon press conference, Sinner was asked for the reasons behind the split with Panichi and physiotherapist Ulises Badio.
Sinner said: “There’s not one specific thing. Nothing crazy happened. That’s for sure not. As I said, we made some great work. Look, in this sport, things can happen and there is nothing incredible, no?”
