“Brutal news and images everywhere around us”: Holger Rune’s mother describes chaotic night in Doha

Holger Rune’s team endured what his mother described as a “wild night” in Doha after Iranian missile strikes and explosions placed Qatar’s capital under emergency conditions. The Danish world No. 17 had been scheduled to depart for Los Angeles on Sunday morning but is now stranded following the closure of airspace and widespread disruption across the region.

Rune, who has been in Qatar recovering from an Achilles tendon injury at the Aspetar sports hospital, was due to fly out at 7:40 a.m. local time according to TV2 Sport. Instead, escalating hostilities between Iran and the United States, alongside Israeli military actions, led to retaliatory strikes that extended into the Gulf, including Qatar.

According to Reuters, “new, powerful explosions” were heard early Sunday morning in Doha. Qatar’s Ministry of the Interior confirmed that eight people were injured in an Iranian attack on Sunday, bringing the total number of injured in the country to 16. Authorities reported limited material damage and urged residents to remain indoors unless absolutely necessary.

Aneke Rune, Holger’s mother and manager, told Danish broadcaster TV2 Sport that the past 24 hours had been deeply unsettling for the team. She described both the physical impact of the attacks and the psychological toll on her son, who at 22 has already experienced high-pressure situations on court but now finds himself confronting a different kind of uncertainty.

Aneke Rune, Holger’s mother and manager, described the past 24 hours as deeply unsettling. She told TV2 Sport that the atmosphere intensified after dark, with visible missile activity and repeated explosions across the skyline. The team sought reassurance from hotel staff before eventually returning to their rooms. “It’s been a wild night. We didn’t get much sleep. It all seems more brutal at night with the fireballs in the sky and repeated bangs.”

She explained that the uncertainty surrounding travel compounded the anxiety. The original plan had been a routine departure toward the United States, where Rune was expected to continue his rehabilitation and assess the next phase of his recovery timeline.

“We spent quite a bit of time at the reception, and they were super sweet, so we finally went to our rooms and slept. But Holger was really scared last night. After all, it pours in with brutal news and images of attacks everywhere around us. Our flight is, of course, canceled today, and we now have no idea when we can get out.”

Rune had travelled to Doha specifically to focus on rehabilitation at Aspetar, one of the region’s leading sports medicine facilities. Since October 2024, he has prioritized recovery from his Achilles issue, opting against a premature return that could jeopardize long-term stability. No official comeback date has been announced.

The sudden airspace closure now adds logistical uncertainty to an already delicate recovery process. With outbound flights suspended and authorities advising residents to remain indoors, Rune and his team are effectively in a holding pattern, awaiting confirmation of when commercial travel can safely resume.