Marco Panichi, the former fitness trainer of Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic, recently opened up about the concerning signs he noticed in Holger Rune at the start of their partnership. Drawing on his vast experience alongside some of the sport’s biggest names, Panichi quickly sensed that the young Dane was navigating a difficult phase, marked by several troubling factors.
Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic’s Former Coach Reveals What He Noticed in Holger Rune After His Arrival
Panichi parted ways with Sinner earlier this year in the lead-up to Wimbledon and, just days later, joined Holger Rune’s team as his fitness trainer ahead of the Cincinnati Open. Only a few months into their collaboration, however, the Dane was sidelined by a severe, untimely injury.
Rune suffered a devastating rupture of his Achilles tendon during his Stockholm Open semifinal, and that demanded immediate surgery. The 22-year-old was hurt suddenly during a routine rally against France’s Ugo Humbert and was forced to retire mid-match despite leading 6-4, 2-2. He underwent surgery soon after and has been undergoing rehabilitation.
While Panichi’s arrival has been a significant boost to Rune’s camp, the Italian quickly realized the scale of the challenge ahead. He recently revealed that Rune was already going through a demanding phase at the time, marked by fatigue, compensatory issues, and noticeable stiffness.
“When I arrived, Holger was coming through a difficult period. There wasn’t one ‘big’ injury, but a combination of things: fatigue, compensations, small stiffnesses that limited his expressiveness. His body was sending clear signals,” he said in an interview with Ubi Tennis.
Panichi explained that for a player like Rune, whose game relies on speed and agility, even a slight drop in physical efficiency could be concerning. It alters posture, balance, and reaction times, preventing him from moving naturally on the court.
“For someone like him, who bases his tennis on speed and the ability to change direction, even 10% less efficiency becomes a huge limitation. If his body doesn’t respond, everything changes: posture, support, reaction times. He moved, but not the way he knows how to move,” he added.
Notably, Rune has voiced concerns to the ATP, particularly during the Masters 1000 in Shanghai, advocating for a heat rule. The Dane highlighted that players struggle to perform safely once temperatures cross a certain threshold.
The 22-year-old closed out the 2025 season with a 36-22 record, securing a year-end ranking of World No. 15. He also claimed the ATP 500 title in Barcelona and amassed over $2.9 million in prize money.