Remember when Andre Agassi stood in Novak Djokovic’s corner back in 2017? That brief but headline-grabbing partnership marked Agassi’s first major foray into ATP coaching. Though their run ended in 2018, Agassi reflected in a 2021 CNBC TV18 interview, “But, stepping to the side he was able to process a lot of stuff we went through together, and hopefully it made him better for it.” Fast forward seven years, and the icon is back, this time guiding rising Danish star Holger Rune as the US Open swing heats up. With the buzz growing louder, former US Open champion Andy Roddick has stepped in, making his stance on the Rune-Agassi duo crystal clear.

In the latest episode of Served, 42-year-old Andy Roddick didn’t hold back while diving into the week’s hottest headlines. Front and center was the buzz around Holger Rune linking up with tennis legend Andre Agassi. We’ve seen partnerships come and go in Rune’s camp, but this one feels different, and Roddick laid it all out. “The number one reason why I like this is because Andre doesn’t need the job,” he said. “And every other person who has kissed Holger’s a** and asked him for a job has needed that job, right?” In Roddick’s eyes, this makes space for something rare: unfiltered honesty.

He sees the timing as critical for Rune. “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.” Agassi, who’s walked both the fire and the glory, could offer Rune the mirror he needs most. 

Roddick made it clear, this isn’t some long-term contract penned in stone. “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 know you can’t tap into my experiences,’” he said, noting that both Agassi’s triumphs and failures carry weight. “Holger is going to listen to Andre Agassi.”

And while Roddick isn’t predicting magic overnight, he knows one thing for sure. “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,” the American added.

Well, all it started with a simple text. Then came the phone call. And soon, the whispers turned into a roar as Holger Rune locked in a three-day training block with none other than Andre Agassi in Washington D.C., just before the start of the Mubadala Citi DC Open. The tennis world stood still. An icon returned to the court, not as a competitor, but as a guide. And the rising Dane, hungry for an edge on the North American hard courts, knew exactly where to turn.

World No. 8 Rune, chasing the fire that once burned brightest during his 2022 breakout, sought out the eight-time Grand Slam champ to sharpen his blade. It wasn’t random. Agassi had lifted five of his 60 career titles right here in the US capital. If Rune was going to reignite the spark, D.C. and Agassi were the perfect match.

Since his career-high climb to No. 4, Rune’s journey has been a rollercoaster. After flirtations with Boris Becker and Severin Luthi, men who guided legends like Djokovic and Federer, Rune finally found some footing with Christensen again. A final run at Indian Wells and a gritty 500-level win over Carlos Alcaraz in Barcelona brought hope. But inconsistency still haunts him, with semifinal points on the line in four crucial events in the coming months.

Now, under Agassi’s gaze, Rune is chasing something bigger, more than titles. He’s chasing Alcaraz. He’s chasing Sinner. He’s chasing greatness. And the American legend just might hold the map.

Holger Rune finally speaks about Andre Agassi’s partnership

Holger Rune’s rise has been anything but predictable. With a career record of 161-99, according to the ATP Win/Loss Index, the Dane has shown flashes of brilliance. He’s split his four Lexus ATP H2H encounters with Carlos Alcaraz and taken two of five meetings from Jannik Sinner. But as those two have hoarded the last seven Grand Slam titles, Rune still waits for his first taste of a major final.

That burning hunger is what brings him to Washington, D.C., seeded third at the Mubadala Citi DC Open. It was in 2022 when Rune truly arrived, shocking Novak Djokovic to win his maiden Masters 1000 title at the Rolex Paris Masters. That unforgettable run under the guidance of Patrick Mouratoglou marked the start of a rollercoaster journey, one that would see coaching shifts, reconciliations, and a final split in 2024.

Now, Rune seems to be aiming higher, and smarter. Enter Andre Agassi. During a pre-tournament interview, Rune offered rare insight into why he sought the legendary American’s wisdom. “I thought now was a good moment to reach out to Agassi because my base is back and I’m playing well again. When you’re changing coaches a lot, you don’t play as well because you’re not following one opinion or a single structure. I thought this was the right time to get some extra input… It’s not anything magic, but he obviously had some very wise words I can use,” the Dane added.

Rune’s decision isn’t based on nostalgia; it’s a calculated strike. The 2022 Paris triumph remains his crown jewel, but since then he’s added Munich in 2023 and Barcelona in 2025. Now he needs consistency.

With Agassi in his corner and D.C. buzzing, one question echoes: Can Rune finally conquer the capital and lift that elusive Citi Open title?