Ex-ATP Pro Thinks Holger Rune’s Recovery from Horror Injury Could Take 2 Years

Holger Rune is expected to stay on the sidelines for months because he ruptured his Achilles tendon during the Stockholm Open. The injury happened when Rune was returning a shot against eventual runner-up Ugo Humbert in the semifinals.

He has successfully undergone surgery and gave an update about the same on his social media, with former and current players wishing him a speedy recovery. Former player Sam Querrey, during the Nothing Major podcast, stated that he thinks Rune could take two years to recover completely.

I think about it a little bit, but I did rehab on mine. I probably did 70% of what Holger will do, you know? I was retired. I wasn’t like super, super diligent with the rehab and getting back as fast as I could, ’cause what am I going to get back to, record a podcast with you guys? It’s not like I was getting back out there.

Rune was chasing his second title of the season in Stockholm after his win at the Barcelona Open. He also reached the final of the Indian Wells Masters but failed to go past Jack Draper.

So, I hope he gets to that spot. But like you said, Jack [Sock], even though he’s back in a year, it might take him two years before mentally he’s like, ‘Okay, I have zero hesitation to push off in any direction.’ But yeah, terrible.

Sam Querrey added

After Stockholm, Rune was scheduled to play the Swiss Indoors, but the injury spoiled his plans. He will also be skipping the Paris Masters, where in 2022, he upset 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic to win his career’s first Big Title. The injury will also keep Rune on the sidelines during the ATP Finals, where he qualified to play for the first time in 2023.

Andy Roddick criticizes the hectic schedule

Andy Roddick understands that players get injured because of several other reasons, with the hectic schedule also being one reason. The American, a retired tennis player who clinched the 2003 US Open, has time and again censured the 11-month calendar and also suggested ways to shorten it. After Holger Rune‘s injury, the former World No.1 once brought up the hectic calendar.

It doesn’t mean that every injury is because of the schedule, and we’d be absolute idiots not to say. why can’t we create a schedule for the players’ health long term? I’m not saying that Holger did this definitely because of the schedule. I can say definitively this schedule is helping absolutely nobody’s health.

Andy Roddick said on his Served podcast

Rune’s mother, Aneke Rune, also censured the ATP calendar for her son’s injury. She echoed several top players’ sentiments, saying playing tennis almost every week leaves them completely exhausted. If Rune recovers before the 2026 season, he may start his campaign at the Brisbane International. Because of his inactivity, it could also affect his rankings.

At present, Rune is standing in the 10th spot on the rankings table with a 36-22 win-loss record. The five-time ATP titlist failed to progress beyond the fourth round of Grand Slam events this year. At the Australian Open and French Open, he reached the fourth round, but lost in the first-round match at Wimbledon and the second-round match at the US Open.

The last time Rune won multiple titles in a season was in 2022 (also the season he won his career’s first ATP title). Rune played five finals and clinched three titles, including the Stockholm Open by beating Stefanos Tsitsipas. In 2023, he won one title from two finals, while last year, he lost the only final he played.

Also read: Elena Rybakina Admits her “Last Push” For a Place in the WTA Finals has Taken a Toll on her

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Join our newsletter to receive exclusive updates and curated insights directly to your inbox.

Subscribe NOW