Holger Rune won’t be competing anytime soon after the shattering injury he suffered during his semifinal in Stockholm on Saturday, October 18. The Dane, who was unable to walk and left the court in tears, has broken his silence on the extreme nature of his condition.
Rune shared a message on social media on Sunday, revealing that the thought of being on the sidelines was “unbearable.”
What Has Holger Rune Said About His Achilles Injury in His Message?
Holger Rune was the top seed at the ATP 250 in Stockholm. The 22-year-old earned a straight-sets win against Marton Fucsovics (6-4, 6-4) before being stretched to three sets in his quarterfinal against Tomas Martin Etcheverry. 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-4. In this match, the Dane reportedly suffered a discomfort in his left hamstring.
In his semifinal against Ugo Humbert, Rune entered the court with his left thigh heavily strapped. Despite the concern over his physical condition, he started strong, clinching the opener 6-4. In the second set the opponents were leveled at 2-2 when Rune appeared to pop his left Achilles tendon while chasing a forehand shot. Confused, he assessed his leg before realizing the extent of his physical trauma.
Barely able to walk, the former World No. 4 proceeded toward his bench, where he was assessed by the physio. Almost immediately, he retired from the match, crying uncontrollably. Rune’s mother, Aneke, provided an initial update, confirming that her son indeed heard an unmistakable tear in the Achilles tendon.
Holger Rune has now validated the initial findings. The Dane, who was scheduled for a scan in Monaco on Sunday, revealed that he had fully ruptured his Achilles tendon “on the proximal part,” which would need an urgent operation.
“It’s gonna be a while before I can step on court again. It’s tough. I had so much joy on court in Stockholm and it’s unbearable to think that I will not feel this energy for some time now,” Holger Rune wrote on Instagram.
“My Achilles is full broken on the proximal part meaning I need operation already next week and from here rehabilitation,” he added. “Thank you for all your support now and always . Without you nothing would be the same . See you as soon as possible.”
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Holger Rune’s Injury Sent Shockwaves in the Tennis World
Holger Rune’s injury was taken seriously among his colleagues, prompting them to hit out at the extreme conditions they are forced to play in. Taylor Fritz and Jack Draper were the first players to call out the circumstances. Alexander Bublik, Ben Shelton, and several others followed, sending well wishes to Rune.
“We need changes in our schedule @atptour. @holgerrune you’ll be back stronger,” Bublik wrote on Instagram.
Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Świątek, and many others have called attention to the dangerous conditions involving the court surfaces, balls, weather, and the lengthy schedule in recent months.
