Ex-ATP Pro Thinks Holger Rune Will Make Comeback in ‘This’ Tournament After Recovering from Achilles Tendon Injury

Holger Rune was in the stands as a spectator during the recently concluded Qatar Open.

Ex-ATP Pro Thinks Holger Rune Will Make Comeback in ‘This’ Tournament After Recovering from Achilles Tendon Injury

Holger Rune (Image via Holger Rune HQ)

In Short
  • Holger Rune has been recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon since last year's Stockholm Open and aims to return for the French Open.
  • Former ATP player Peter Bastiansen believes Rune can make a comeback at Roland Garros, despite concerns about rushing his recovery.
  • Rune's mother and manager, Aneke Rune, stated that his return date depends on his weekly progress and cannot be officially set yet.

Holger Rune has not competed since giving the walkover to Ugo Humbert in the semifinals of last year’s Stockholm Open. He ruptured his Achilles tendon and successfully underwent surgery a few days later.

Since then, Rune regularly gives updates about his recovery on social media. He believes he can make a quick comeback, but he was advised by many from the tennis world not to rush it because of the severity of the injury. Former ATP player and compatriot Peter Bastiansen, however, thinks Rune can return to the tour at Roland Garros.

It seems that the rehab is going as it should. His goal is to be playing at the French Open, which I still think is a crazy idea. But knowing Holger and all the energy he puts in, it’s positive that he’s starting to get back into tennis. I know the plan is to play two lead-up tournaments before Roland Garros.

Peter Bastiansen said (H/T: Spilxperten)

Rune has so far made three quarterfinals in Grand Slam events, two of which he made at the French Open (in 2022 and 2023). Last year, his campaign ended in the fourth round.

It’s extremely positive that Holger is starting to show himself at tournaments. He was at the tournament in Doha, and of course, he’s also doing his rehabilitation in Qatar. Now he’s getting back into it, feeling the kind of grind that comes with being an experienced ATP player.

Peter Bastiansen added

As Rune is currently undergoing rehabilitation in Qatar, he attended as a spectator to watch several matches of the ATP 500 event during the Middle East Swing. World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz clinched the Doha title by defeating Arthur Fils, winning his second title of the season, following his Australian Open triumph.

Rune watched Alcaraz defeat his second-round opponent, Valentin Royer, in straight sets. He was in the stands to watch Jannik Sinner‘s second-round match against Alexei Popyrin.

The four-time Grand Slam champion knocked out the Aussie in straight sets but lost his quarterfinal match against Jakub Mensik in three sets, losing two consecutive tournaments (he lost to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semifinal) without making the final for the first time since 2024.

Holger Rune’s mom, Aneke Rune, reacts to Peter Bastiansen’s prediction

After Peter Bastiansen claimed Holger Rune is planning his return to Roland Garros, Spilxperten asked the World No.17’s mom, Aneke Rune, about Bastiansen’s comments. Aneke, who is also Rune’s manager, said she cannot set an official date for his return.

Holger Rune (2)
Holger Rune (Image via X/AllAboutHQ)

We can’t set a date wherever we would like. It depends entirely on his progress week by week with the physical. We need one more physical block, and then it’s on the transition phase, and we can’t know exactly when it starts and how long it will take. We are closer than a month ago, that’s probably the only thing I can say for sure.

Rune, as well as Aneke, blamed the 11-month tennis calendar for his Achilles injury. Last year, Rune reached two finals, winning the Barcelona Open by defeating Carlos Alcaraz and losing the Indian Wells Masters title to Jack Draper.

The French Open is scheduled to start on May 24th. If Rune plans to play before the clay-court Major, then he could play the Italian Open, the last Masters 1000 of the European clay swing. Rune is a former finalist at the Italian Open, reaching the final in 2023, losing to 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev. Rune has so far won one Masters 1000 title (2022 Paris Masters) and has played three finals at this level.

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