“Look what happened to me when I pushed": Holger Rune speaks out after Musetti’s painful Australian Open exit

Holger Rune joined the discussion with a sharp post on social media after a user on X questioned Lorenzo Musetti’s retirement in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open. The Italian withdrew due to an injury while leading by two sets against Novak Djokovic and with real chances of reaching the semi-finals of the tournament for the first time in his career.

It looked like a match practically won for Musetti, who only needed a final push to close out the victory after looking clearly superior to the 24-time Grand Slam champion. However, physical discomfort appeared towards the end of the second set, with a gesture involving his right leg that intensified as the third set began.

The Italian took a medical timeout for treatment between sets — when he was already leading 6-4, 6-3 — but despite the effort, he eventually had to retire from the match. “Honestly, I never imagined the feeling of leading two sets to zero against Novak and playing like that, having the lead of the match like that, and then being forced to retire,” the 23-year-old player shared in press conference. “It’s something I would never imagine, and of course it’s really painful.”

Musetti’s retirement eliminated him from the tournament and allowed Djokovic to return to the semi-finals at Melbourne Park, almost by miracle. The unfortunate situation that overshadowed the Australian Open quarter-finals also triggered critical voices regarding the Italian’s decision to retire — something one user highlighted by comparing it to previous eras and arguing that Musetti “is not a fighter” after making the quick decision to withdraw despite holding the advantage.

“Musetti retires way too easily. He doesn’t fight. I may sound harsh but every player has some minor issues here and there, a GS QF where you are 2-0 up is a situation where you should try to fight and get treatment. He gave up easily, many times he does this. He’s not a fighter.”

That is when the comment from none other than former world No.4 Holger Rune arrived — a player who knows injuries well and also knows what it means to show his best tennis against Novak Djokovic, something we saw when he won his first Masters 1000 title in Paris-Bercy 2022, defeating Nole in the final.

The Dane is currently in the process of recovering from an injury that will keep him out for several months after rupturing his Achilles tendon. Rune had to undergo surgery and has only recently stepped back onto the tennis courts in recent weeks, although it will be a long period before he can return to competitive tennis — something that will take, at the very least, several months or even the rest of the season. It is a long absence for the young player, who began his recovery process three months ago following a fall in the semi-finals of the 2025 Stockholm Open.

Rune shared his opinion on social media, replying to the user by using his own experience as an example. “Look what happened to me when I pushed through a grade 1 tear in the leg…. cost me longer time away from tennis than ever before,” explained the 22-year-old player. “Yes we want to fight at any cost and with pain, but I perfectly understand Musetti chose to listen to his body.”

Rune is only one year younger than Musetti and is another player who has dealt with injuries several times throughout his career — although never one as serious as an Achilles tendon injury, whose recovery usually takes between six and nine months depending on the rehabilitation process, or even longer, sometimes even ending the careers of professional athletes.

Meanwhile, Rune and Musetti are two more examples of young players who have constantly had to deal with injuries. British player Jack Draper, 24, is another who has spent time away from the courts due to physical issues — something that has also recently affected Czech player Jakub Menšík and Frenchman Arthur Fils. All of them are considered part of the new generation of names that could dominate tennis, but physical problems have prevented them from finding enough regularity on the Tour.