It has been a month since Holger Rune ruptured his Achilles tendon during the Stockholm Open semifinal, which required immediate surgery and a long recovery ahead. The injury came as a shock since the 22-year-old never had ankle problems before.
The hectic tennis schedule and fatigue might have played a big role, and the Dane is using this setback as motivation.
Holger Rune Was Surprised After His Achilles Injury
Rune suffered the injury suddenly in a routine rally that forced him to retire mid-match while leading 6-4, 2-2 against Ugo Humbert. He had Achilles tendon surgery soon after and has been following a rehab program ever since.
During a recent interview with Hard Court, the Danish star described the injury as a “slap in the face” that forced him to reassess his game and mindset. He said, “It for sure cost something with my ranking and [in terms of] trophies, but maybe it was necessary for me. We can’t undo what’s done, and now with the injury, maybe this is the slap in the face I needed to make me take my talent seriously and show myself what I am actually capable of doing.”
“I think my injury was a shock for many tennis players and athletes because I never had an issue with my ankle, and my body was super healthy,” Rune added.
But the Dane is not blaming luck, and said, “I’m 22 years old, I’m healthy and strong, and yet it happened. But I don’t believe in being ‘unlucky’ or having ‘bad luck’ in sports. Everything happens for a reason, and there is an explanation behind everything.”
Just like many other players, Rune also pointed to fatigue as the main cause. “The main thing that could have caused this injury is fatigue, and that is super scary for the whole sports industry. Sport is entertainment, and we love to entertain- we love that people enjoy watching us play. We just need to make sure to listen to our bodies, too…”
Tennis Player Injuries in 2025 and Criticism of the Hectic Schedule
Rune’s injury added fuel to the growing debate about whether the tennis calendar needs major changes. The 22-year-old isn’t the only one sidelined in the middle of the season, as this year has seen a rise in injuries and burnout across both the ATP and WTA Tours, with many blaming the packed schedule.
After the news of Rune’s injury, Alexander Bublik immediately wrote in his Instagram story, “We need changes in our schedule @atptour. @holgerrune you’ll be back stronger.”
“Injuries are going to happen… we are pushing our bodies to do things they aren’t supposed to in elite sport,” Jack Draper wrote on X. “The tour and the calendar have to adapt if any of us are gonna achieve some sort of longevity….” he further added. His own season was cut short due to an arm injury.
Taylor Fritz also agreed with Draper’s words and added that “balls, courts, conditions have slowed down a lot, making the weekly grind even more physically demanding and tough on the body.”
World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz also believes the ATP calendar has become too demanding and needs fixing. During a press conference at the Paris Masters, he said, “The amount of tournaments that we have to play I think is too high. We don’t have such, you know, good period of time that we can practice, we can rest.”
Similar words have been shared by World No. 2 Iga Świątek, who believes “the schedule is crazy.”
Tommy Paul had to end his season early due to injury. Hubert Hurkacz also withdrew due to his knee issue. Ben Shelton suffered a shoulder injury at the US Open and missed many important events.
Paula Badosa ended her season in September due to hip and back issues, while Ana Bogdan also stepped away to recover from knee and ankle injuries. Maxime Cressy is out with a chronic back problem.
