Holger Rune
Inside Holger Rune’s recovery
Dane speaks exclusively to ATPtour.com
February 03, 2026
ATP Tour
Holger Rune opens up about his recovery after injuring his Achilles in Stockholm in October.
Written by Sam Jacot
As the biggest stars spent January competing for the title at the Australian Open, there was one notable name missing from the program: Holger Rune.
The 22-year-old has been sidelined since last October, when he suffered an Achilles injury in Stockholm, which brought his season to an abrupt halt and set him on an unexpected, but promising road to recovery.
“It was very unexpected,” Rune recalled to ATPtour.com. “I didn’t know exactly what was happening when it happened, but after that the focus was on what to do now and how to move forward.”
An MRI soon confirmed the diagnosis and surgery followed soon after: “Luckily everything went well,” Rune said. “My surgeon did a fantastic job, the physios are great and my team is really good.”
Although Rune hasn’t competed in an ATP tournament since October, the layoff is by no means a break. After two weeks of ordered rest, the Dane quickly returned to a regular routine, starting in the gym before gradually returning to the court in December.
“My schedule has been really busy, which is good,” Rune explained. “I had a tight schedule because I have a lot of things to do in rehab, which makes me busy during my free time.
“Right after the injury, I really needed to rest. I was at the end of the season and I was ready to go on vacation, not like this. The first two weeks of the cast went by very quickly. I was relaxing, going to the gym a little, and it was nice to have some time off. After that it was very intense. I never thought it would be forever. I’m really young, and the healing is very good.”
One of the most encouraging developments has been Rune’s recent return to court hitting. After starting to hit balls while limited to one leg, the former number 4 player in the PIF ATP Rankings is now able to train with both feet firmly planted.
“It’s amazing, especially now that I’m hitting two legs,” said Rune. “It’s starting to feel really good. Before it was good again, but it’s not the same when you know what you can do. Now it’s really good because I can actually put power behind the ball.
“There’s still a lot to do, but it’s really good to be back on the tennis court. I think it will help when I come back to keep swinging and everything going on, because we don’t want another injury during too much time off. So far I think we’ve used our time well.”
Away from the physio table and the training court, Rune found a rare respite from tireless work, a chance to slow down the tempo and reconnect with life beyond travel. Back home in Denmark, more time with family and close friends provided both comfort and perspective, while films, football and other sports helped fill the quiet hours. Even then, competition is never far away, from card games, gym challenges and anything that allows him to keep that side sharp.
“It’s nice to be with family and close friends,” said Rune. “We don’t get that chance normally. I’ve watched a lot of movies, especially at the beginning after the surgery. I was on the couch with my leg up watching Netflix and James Bond. Now I’ve been to a football match, I’ve watched other sports and I’ve tried to focus on other things besides tennis. I watched Formula 1 when I was in Qatar.
“I’ve been competing since I was young. I’ve always wanted to win and fight. I had that dragon inside me on the court. I still have it. This injury is a moment to show myself how strong I am and how much I’m willing to put into it. I miss the adrenaline and the competition, even at home I do gym exercises or small games just to feel I have the strength to compete again.”
This campaign continued to plan for his recovery. Rune and his team have relied on research and interviews with other athletes who have navigated similar issues, seeking reassurance and clarity in an unfamiliar situation.
“We searched a lot. With Achilles injuries, most of the subjects are elderly people, and many don’t have surgery and the recovery can be a year,” said Rune. “But for athletes it is different and faster as we undergo surgery. Surgery was a natural thing for me to speed up the process in a healthy way.
“Another footballer reached out to me. He had the same injury and came back after four and a half months. There are strict guidelines and you cannot skip steps. I am strong and young, so I believe I will recover quickly, but it requires hard work and smart work.”
Throughout his time away, the support of fans and fellow players has been a powerful reminder of the community that exists outside of competition, something Rune admits he misses as much as the games themselves.
“That’s one of the parts I miss the most, playing on the field and hearing the support. I’ve also received good messages from a lot of players. Even though we’re rivals, we’re partners and we want the best for each other,” said Rune.
Rune’s absence comes at a time that has already seen him achieve significant success. Since joining the Tour in 2021, he has slowly established himself among the game’s elite. He announced himself on the major stages early, taking a set against Novak Djokovic in the 2021 US Open as a qualifier, before lifting tour trophies in Munich and Stockholm in 2022.
Later that season, Rune stunned the tennis world at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Paris, defeating Djokovic to claim the biggest title of his career. The victory put him in the Top 10 of the PIF ATP Rankings for the first time and made him the youngest Paris champion since Boris Becker in 1986.
In the years since, he has qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals, added titles in Munich and Barcelona and remained a consistent presence inside the Top 15.
The hiatus has given Rune valuable space to reflect on his journey thus far and reassess how he’s coping with the demands of life on Tour.
“When you play every week, you don’t really stop testing things,” Rune said. “I think it’s about managing the competitions better and listening to my body more. Sometimes you push too much, and now it was my body too much. Next time, I’ll try to look at the big picture, not just the next goal, but how I feel physically and mentally. I think that’s important for my long-term goals.
“But in this break, I had the opportunity to look back, it means a lot [to win Barcelona]. Paris is still my most memorable win, but every title is special. Last season was a good week, and Indian Wells [final] and it was a good week.”
As Rune continues to build toward his comeback, the excitement is palpable and growing with each return to the court.
“I’m very happy to be back,” said Rune. “In training now, I can put the energy behind the ball again and it feels amazing. I’m looking forward to it and I think I’ll come back strong and hopefully I’ll have a lot of perfect weeks in my career.”
