“I start to see light at the end of the tunnel”: Holger Rune offers clearest hint yet on return from Achilles injury
ATPTuesday, 11 August 2026 at 19:30
Holger Rune has offered his clearest indication yet that his long-awaited return is approaching, revealing that his team is considering a comeback during the Asian swing and potentially at Davis Cup. The former world No. 4 spoke with Andy Roddick about his recovery after recently withdrawing from Cincinnati, giving a more detailed picture of his progress and suggesting that his return could now be closer than previously expected.
Rune's mother and representative, Aneke Rune, had already suggested days earlier that the US Open or Asian swing could be possible targets, although she stressed that no precise date had been decided. Rune has now provided a little more clarity, explaining that his training is being gradually increased as he prepares his body for the demands of competitive matches.
The Dane has been sidelined since suffering a torn Achilles tendon in his left foot in Stockholm last October. He has postponed his comeback several times and missed both Roland Garros and Wimbledon, despite originally being expected to return earlier in the season. Rune was a top-10 player when injured but has since fallen to No. 99 in the ATP rankings.
With Cincinnati now off his schedule, the US Open also appears increasingly unlikely as his comeback tournament. Instead, Rune is looking toward September and the Asian swing, although he stressed that his team will only make a final decision once he knows he can handle several demanding days in a row.
Rune reveals what remains before his comeback
Speaking with Roddick, Rune explained that his training is progressing, but that durability remains the key factor before he can commit to a tournament.
“We are training and last week we did seven and a half. And so next week we're building up to two sets, hopefully, and then three sets the week after," the former world No. 4 said. "So things are definitely moving in the right direction, but it's also, as you said, matter, you know, of lasting over a long time, many days in a row, many hard training days.
“And I need to be able to sustain that before going out there again. So that's also why I don't have an exact tournament yet when I'll be back, but it's definitely more in the near future than last time we spoke. So yeah, hopefully I can get out there.”
Holger Rune claps to the crowd at the Indian Wells Open
Davis Cup could provide Rune's comeback stage
Rune then revealed that Denmark's Davis Cup tie against Bulgaria on September 18-19 could potentially become his first competitive appearance. Denmark will be fighting to remain in the qualifying pathway for the 2027 Davis Cup Finals after losing 3-1 to Croatia in the first round of this year's qualifying, a tie Rune missed.
“Yeah, I mean, we are looking at Asia in the team and we're looking to maybe start my comeback with Davis Cup at home. Could be a possibility. So I would love that, to be fair, get my comeback in front of all my Danish fans. Would be amazing.
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“And then lead into Tokyo and Shanghai, hopefully, and that's what we're trying to train for and how we're building up the volume in the practices over the next couple of weeks to get ready for that.
“And then as we get really close, we'll have to see, am I ready or am I not ready? But that's where our head space is at at the moment. And yeah, physically, I'm holding up well. Achilles feeling good and it's starting to be, I start to see light at the end of the tunnel now.”
Rune also discussed watching the Tour during his absence, praising Alexander Zverev's Roland Garros breakthrough and pointing to the increasingly open US hard-court swing.
“He definitely deserved that. He's been on the top of the game for the last so many years. So that was great to see him winning," Rune said. “And I think, yeah, I mean, obviously it's still Jannik. And when Carlos is playing, these are the guys that are really dominating the finals of the big tournaments. But it was great to see someone else winning, to be fair."
“It opens up the game a little bit. And I think the way he carried himself through Wimbledon, playing even better, in my opinion, than French Open was good to see," the Danish added. “And I think now, obviously, Carlos injured and Jannik had some small issues. So I think the next, maybe the whole US swing is very open and very exciting for so many players to do a big result.”
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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