Holger Rune’s accelerated recovery plan from a torn Achilles tendon has hit a roadblock. The Danish former world No. 4 announced on Monday that he will not be ready for either the Hamburg Open, starting May 16, or the French Open, beginning May 24.
Sep 20, 2025; San Francisco, CA, USA; Team Europe player Holger Rune returns a ball from Team World player Francisco Cerundolo during the Laver Cup at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images
“I was really looking forward to making my comeback in Hamburg, and you all know how much I love the clay and how special Paris and Roland Garros have always been to me, so this has not been an easy decision to make,” Rune said in a statement.
“But for me, it’s not just about being able to get through some matches, it’s about being ready for an entire tournament. I don’t want to come back feeling almost ready, but 110 percent ready when I step on court again.”
The 23-year-old suffered the injury during the semifinals of Stockholm’s Nordic Open last October. He had entered the clay court event in Hamburg and confirmed his plans via Instagram in early April with the all-caps message, “The comeback begins.”
A mid-May return would have meant only seven months of absence—far shorter than the typical nine-to-12 month recovery period for a torn Achilles.
“I am 100 percent going to be back stronger than ever,” Rune told The Athletic in January. “I can build myself exactly how I want to when I come back.”
Since the injury, Rune’s ranking has slipped to No. 40. He has won five ATP Tour titles, most recently defeating Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz to claim the Barcelona Open in April 2025, finishing that season with a 36-22 record. He has yet to reach a Grand Slam semifinal.
