After a seven-year break from coaching since working with Novak Djokovic, Andre Agassi has reentered the tennis world as a mentor for rising star Holger Rune. This new collaboration comes just before the Citi Open in Washington, where Rune is preparing to compete starting July 21.
Rune, ranked World No. 8, has endured a challenging season, including an early exit at the Wimbledon Championships where he was defeated in the first round by Nicolás Jarry despite a determined performance. In response to these setbacks, Rune has been dedicating himself to rigorous training sessions in the lead-up to the Citi Open, with Agassi now offering his guidance and presence at practice.
Holger Rune’s Coaching Team and Trial with Agassi
Holger Rune currently works with two coaches: Kenneth Carlsen, who joined mid-2024, and Lars Christensen, his childhood coach who rejoined the team earlier this year. Amid this established camp, Agassi’s involvement is on a trial basis, lasting three days to evaluate how well his expertise and approach might integrate with Rune’s development and team dynamics.
Recap of Andre Agassi’s Coaching History in Professional Tennis
Agassi’s most prominent coaching experience was with Novak Djokovic, beginning in 2017 shortly before the French Open. Although their partnership initially showed promise, it lasted less than a year, ending in March 2018 due to differing views about coaching strategy and team composition. During their time together, Djokovic secured only one title, at the 2017 Eastbourne International.
Reflecting on his coaching experience with Djokovic, Agassi noted the unique pressures involved.
“When I played I never felt pressure but a lot of stress. As a coach I never felt stress but a lot of pressure so that was an interesting difference,”
—Andre Agassi, former player and coach
“Would I help someone if I could help someone? Of course I would.”
—Andre Agassi, former player and coach
Following his split with Djokovic, Agassi mentored Grigor Dimitrov from 2018 to 2020 and has more recently offered advice to other players such as Sebastian Korda and Marcos Giron, although not in an official coaching capacity.
Potential Impact of Agassi’s Mentorship on Holger Rune’s Career
With Agassi returning to an active coaching role, his experience and insights could provide fresh momentum to Holger Rune’s quest to improve his game after a difficult period this year. The trial period will be crucial in determining whether this partnership can yield lasting benefits as Rune aims to regain consistency and success on the ATP Tour. The tennis community will be watching closely during the upcoming Citi Open to see if Agassi’s influence translates into stronger performances from the young Dane.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Did Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf have a relationship?
A. Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf are a couple who fit well together. Although Agassi was interested in Graf in the early 1990s, they got married about ten years later.
Q. What happened to Andre Agassi?
A. Andre Agassi began playing tennis as a young child and retired at 36, winning eight Grand Slam titles in his career. He is married to Steffi Graf, and they have two children. These days, he manages a foundation and a charter school in Las Vegas that focuses on accountability, although it doesn’t have tennis courts.
Q. Why did Brooke Shields marry Andre Agassi?
A. Shields thought about why she decided to marry the tennis star initially. She confessed that she liked Agassi’s greater fame, as it let her escape constant public attention.
Q. Is Andre Agassi a billionaire?
A. Andre Agassi has a net worth of around $145 million. He and his wife, Steffi Graf, invest in technology, clean energy, and wellness businesses.