Holger Rune's return from torn Achilles suffers setback

Holger Rune's plans to return ahead of the typical schedule from a ruptured Achilles tendon at the Hamburg Open have suffered a setback, with the Danish former World No. 4 announcing Monday he will not be ready for the German tournament starting May 16 or the French Open starting May 24.

"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."

Rune, 23, sustained the injury in the semifinals of Stockholm's Nordic Open last October.

He entered the clay court tournament in Hamburg and confirmed his plans via Instagram in early April with the statement, "The comeback begins," in all caps.

The mid-May return would have meant an absence of only seven months, shorter than the typical nine-to-12 month timeline 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."

Rune's ranking has dropped to No. 40 due to his layoff.

He has won five titles on the ATP Tour, most recently defeating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win the Barcelona Open in April 2025 and finishing the 2025 season with a 36-22 record.

Rune has yet to reach a Grand Slam semifinal.

--Field Level Media