Holger Rune injury update: “Everything is moving in the right direction” as grass-season return looms

Holger Rune says his recovery is “moving in the right direction” as he targets a return to the ATP Tour later this season, with the grass-court swing emerging as a realistic window following his Achilles injury layoff. The former world No. 4 has been sidelined since October but has now resumed running and high-intensity hitting as part of his rehabilitation.

At the same time, Rune made clear that his ambitions extend well beyond simply returning, stating that “it gets boring when only two players win everything” in reference to the recent dominance of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. The Dane views his comeback as an opportunity to reinsert himself into that rivalry at the top of men’s tennis.

The 22-year-old, who won five ATP titles including the Paris Masters in 2022, confirmed that his long-term objective remains unchanged. He continues to target Grand Slam success and a consistent presence among the leading players, despite the interruption caused by injury.

Rune’s recovery timeline suggests a cautious but structured approach, with a potential return between the latter stages of the clay season and the start of the grass-court campaign. He expects to require a period of full training before competing again, prioritising long-term physical readiness.

Rune described his rehabilitation as a gradual but consistent process, moving from caution in the early stages to a more aggressive approach focused on strength and explosiveness. After several months of daily work, he now feels physically stronger and more confident in his movement.

He recently returned to hitting at a higher level during a session in Doha, describing it as a key milestone in regaining match-like rhythm. The ability to train at pace again marked a significant psychological step after months of controlled activity. “My rehab is going well, it’s moving in the right direction, and I started to run yesterday, so that’s a really nice milestone for me," he said in Tails of Tennis. "Moving forward it looks great, it’s feeling great, so I’m very positive about everything and hopefully soon I can be back on the court.”

Rune explained that the nature of his rehab has evolved, shifting from protection to performance-based work as he approaches a return. “In the beginning it was about being extra cautious. Now it’s more about attacking the rehab in the right way, working on explosiveness, working on strength. The tendon is totally fine now, so it’s about getting fit again and getting ready to train on court and eventually back to matches.”

He also outlined the uncertainty surrounding his return date, noting that it will depend on both physical readiness and the need for a full training block before competing. “It could be the end of the clay season, it could be the grass season," the 22-year-old player added. "It’s somewhere in between, but it depends on how fast I go through the rehab. And after that, I need to train probably around a month fully on court before I feel ready.”

While recovering, Rune has closely followed the current state of the ATP Tour, where Alcaraz and Sinner have established themselves as the dominant figures. He suggested that their consistent presence in finals has created a predictable pattern at the top of the game.

At the same time, Rune positioned himself as a potential disruptor, emphasising that he has already proven capable of competing with both players and intends to do so more consistently. “With just two guys making finals and winning everything, it gets boring to be honest. I think there needs to be more guys to challenge them, not just one tournament, but consistently.”

Rune also expressed confidence in his head-to-head matchups against the leading players, pointing to his belief that he can compete on equal terms when fully fit. “I know I can do it, and every time I step on court against them, I know I have a chance to beat them. I also know that both of them find it uncomfortable to play me, so that’s extra motivation for me.”

He acknowledged, however, that consistency remains the key factor in bridging the gap, noting that he needs to reach the latter stages of tournaments more regularly in order to test himself against the top players on a weekly basis.

Despite the interruption caused by injury, Rune reiterated that his ambitions have not shifted. He continues to view himself as a future Grand Slam contender and remains focused on returning to the highest level of the sport.

The rehabilitation period has also provided an opportunity to reflect on his physical preparation and approach to training, with Rune highlighting the lessons learned during the process. “My goal hasn’t really changed. It’s to be at the top of the game and to win Grand Slam titles. I know I can do it. I just need to be clear in my mind and aware of what I have to do, both physically and on the tennis court.”

He also described the experience of being sidelined as both challenging and instructive, particularly in terms of discipline and understanding his body. “I think I’ve learned a lot about my body and how to set goals in the short term and long term. It’s been a journey — not one I wanted — but now that I’ve gone through it, I’ve learned a lot.”

At the same time, Rune admitted that the absence from competition has reinforced his motivation, particularly the elements of pressure and intensity that define elite-level tennis. “I miss the pressure and the adrenaline of competition. That’s something I really feel when I’m not playing. It makes me even more excited to come back, because that’s what I love to do.”