(VIDEO) “Nice to be at a tournament again”: Holger Rune resumes rehab at Qatar Open

Holger Rune is back inside a tournament environment, even if competition remains some distance away. The world No. 18 is in Doha this week during the Qatar Open, continuing his rehabilitation from the Achilles tendon rupture he suffered last October at the Stockholm Open. While absent from the draw, the 22-year-old has resumed controlled on-court activity under medical supervision.

Rune has been sidelined for 122 days following the injury sustained in the Stockholm semifinals against Ugo Humbert. The fall resulted in the most serious physical setback of his career and abruptly ended his 2025 campaign. At the time, he was pushing for a strong finish to the season with hopes of returning to the Top 10.

Surgery was required, followed by an extended recovery programme focused on restoring strength and mobility in the affected tendon. The Danish player has since progressed through rehabilitation phases, gradually reintroducing tennis-specific movements. Doha now represents the first time since October that he has been back at a tournament site.

Earlier this week, Rune shared a brief but significant update from Qatar, signalling a new step in his recovery process and confirming his return to light on-court work. “Nice to be at a tournament again @QatarTennis Did my first little jump today at @Aspetar step by step #comebackloading”

The injury in Stockholm halted what had been a rebuilding period for Rune. The 2022 Paris-Bercy champion, who defeated Novak Djokovic to claim his first Masters 1000 title, had re-established himself inside the Top-15 and was seeking consistency after fluctuating results earlier in the season.

Instead, the rupture forced a complete reset. Achilles injuries are among the most demanding in professional tennis, particularly for players who rely on explosive baseline movement and aggressive court positioning. Rune’s game is built around quick directional changes and heavy physical engagement from the back of the court.

The rehabilitation timeline has therefore been cautious. Medical guidance has prioritised long-term stability over short-term return dates. There is still no clear date for Rune’s return, and at the very least he is expected to miss the entire clay swing — although depending on how the recovery progresses, his time away could even extend for the rest of the season.

While Rune works in Doha, tournament organisers in Indian Wells have confirmed his withdrawal from the upcoming Masters 1000 event. The Dane, who reached the final there in 2025 before losing to Jack Draper, will not defend those ranking points. Quentin Halys, currently ranked No. 72 in the ATP standings, has entered the main draw in his place.

The absence carries significant ranking implications. After building momentum in the latter stages of 2025 and reaching the Indian Wells final, Rune now faces an inevitable slide in the standings. The 1,000-point Masters events are pivotal in shaping the ATP ranking landscape, and missing one as a recent finalist compounds the impact.

The Dane had managed to position himself in the upper tier of the rankings as world No. 17, but the loss of points in Indian Wells will push him out of the Top 20 — and in the coming weeks, his drop in the standings is expected to accelerate further.