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Holger Rune has opened up about the devastating injury that has sidelined him from the ATP Tour. Speaking honestly about the ordeal, he said the incident was severe enough that it should "scare" the entire sports industry.
Rune was cruising toward a strong run in Stockholm back in October, having taken out Marton Fucsovics and Tomas Martin Etcheverry to reach the semifinals. There, he led Ugo Humbert 6-4, 2-2 before a severe injury forced him to retire, leaving the court in tears.
The Dane later shared on Instagram that he had suffered a “full break” of the Achilles tendon in the proximal part of his left leg. He underwent surgery soon after, and according to the latest updates, the procedure was successful and he is currently in recovery.
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Amid that, Holger Rune sat down with Hard Court for his first interview since the injury. He said the whole experience was terrifying for him and should concern the wider sports world. Rune believes the injury came from extreme fatigue, pointing out that the tennis season has become far too packed, a problem many other players have also mentioned.
"The main reason I suffered this injury is fatigue, I’m certain of that," Rune said. "This is a factor that should scare the entire sports industry."
"Sport is entertainment, we all love entertainment, we love the people who enjoy watching us play. We must ensure that everyone has the opportunity to listen to their bodies, but it’s really difficult when you love tennis so much, the competition, the game, the tournaments, and every single fan who comes to the stadium," he added.
Rune’s mother, Aneke, also blamed the ATP Tour earlier for contributing to her son’s injury. She explained that players are pressured to meet a minimum number of tournament commitments and that failing to do so often leads to financial consequences.
Holger Rune on his injury: "This may be the wake-up call I needed to take my talent more seriously"
During the same interview with Hard Court, Holger Rune said he believes everything happens for a reason and that his injury is one of those moments. He explained that he needed this setback to move forward, calling it a wake-up call that will push him to be at his best once he returns to the court.
Rune said:
"To reach the Top 5 or even higher, to win Grand Slams, what you need is consistency in everything. But then again, life isn't always a straight line to the finish line. Looking at how the last few years have gone, perhaps I needed this stage in my life, to mature at my own pace."
He added:
"This will affect my ranking, my trophies, but perhaps it was necessary. This may be the wake-up call I needed to take my talent more seriously , to prove to myself that I'm capable. The truth is, I'm eager to take a leap forward."
Despite the injury stopping his momentum, Holger Rune still closed out the season with one title at the Barcelona Open and finished as the World No. 15 with a 36–22 record. It remains unclear when he will return to action.
