"We still need more weeks”: Holger Rune casts doubt on return despite “no injuries anymore”
ATPFriday, 26 June 2026 at 08:30
Holger Rune continues his rehabilitation from Achilles surgery without a confirmed return date, with his comeback still dependent on medical clearance from his support team in Qatar. The former world No. 4 has been out of competition for almost nine months since the injury suffered at the Stockholm Open.
The Danish player is currently training in Monaco, where extreme heat conditions have added physical strain to an already demanding workload. His schedule now includes full court sessions, gym work and recovery blocks distributed across full training days.
Although there were earlier expectations that Rune could return during the clay swing, his comeback was ultimately delayed after consecutive withdrawals from Queen’s Club and Wimbledon. The timeline remains open-ended.
The former Paris Masters champion has avoided setting a fixed return date, but says he is now fully free of injury and focused entirely on rebuilding match fitness for the ATP Tour.
Read also
Rehab status and return conditions
Rune described his recovery as entering its final performance phase, where the emphasis has shifted almost entirely to explosive movement, sprint mechanics and full court coverage. He is already completing structured points and extended training blocks, but insists that competitive return depends on movement quality at maximum intensity.
Speaking in a recent interview with The Big T, Rune said the timing of his comeback remains unclear and is being dictated by medical staff in Qatar, where he has worked extensively throughout his rehabilitation. “That’s the golden question,” Rune said when asked about his return. “I’d like to know too when I can be back, but we’re following closely what the physios are saying in Qatar, where we’ve worked a lot with them.”
He explained that the next phase of his preparation is focused on explosive movement patterns and court coverage at full speed.
“They say I still need more weeks to get ready. We’re working a lot on plyometrics, the final sprinting, the last explosive movements in the corners, to get me comfortable moving everywhere on court. Before my injury I was a great mover, and I need to feel I move great before coming back.”
Rune confirmed that he is already playing long, match-style sessions, but stressed that this is still part of a controlled build-up rather than a return to competition. “We’re playing points, drilling, full sessions, two and a half to three hours on court. It’s really starting to feel good.”
He also stated that the injury itself is no longer a limitation, shifting focus to performance optimisation rather than rehabilitation. “The knee is feeling great, the Achilles is feeling great. There are no injuries anymore. Now it’s about optimizing and getting ready to compete again.”
Despite the progress, Rune reiterated that no official timeline has been set for his return to the ATP Tour.
Training progression and Sinner benchmark
Rune’s daily workload has increased significantly, combining on-court tennis, physical conditioning and structured recovery across full-day training schedules. The emphasis is on gradually increasing intensity while maintaining control of fatigue and physical load.
As part of his return to high-level hitting, Rune has recently trained with top-ranked opposition, including Jannik Sinner and Grigor Dimitrov. These sessions have been used as key performance benchmarks for timing, movement efficiency and ball perception.
“Honestly, it’s been great. Hitting with Jannik was super good,” Rune said when reflecting on his return to practice with elite players. “The first pro player I hit with after my injury was Grigor, and I remember I felt everything incredibly fast. That was about four or five weeks ago.”
He added that his most recent session with Sinner showed clear progress compared with earlier stages of his comeback. “Now hitting with Jannik just a week ago already felt much better. I feel like my feet were moving quicker, I was in balance with the ball, everything felt nicer. It was a very, very good hit.”
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.
claps 0visitors 0
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- Condescending Collins and her Elitist pal Williams need to go away... for good.
mandoist25-06-2026 - This way she can continue her part-time unserious nonsense, withdraw from Wimbledon if it's too hot... and still keep her Sponsor$ Stop wasting everyone's time.mandoist25-06-2026
- Well said Ajila. Thank you for not being afraid to tell it like it is!! Hopefully your colleagues, their teams, and others will grow a set of real balls and FINALLY take WTA & ITIA to task for their varying degrees of treatment and mistakes. For all the good they do -- it only takes one poorly orchestrated in-house decision to ruin what little reputation they possess.mandoist24-06-2026
- That was extreme bullshit for Pliskova to say such senseless things! Perhaps an experience like Petra Kvitova went through, when an unkown person attacked her at home, might give Pliskova a bit of enlightenment before stating such ignorance? If ITIA wants to play cops-and-robbers they had better wear badges, ID's, and so. There's absolutely no need for intimidation; something I have witnessed at tourneys from a two of these people acting tough and gruff behind the scenes. Again, it's a systemic problem in every situation when these entities are accountable to no one but themselves.mandoist24-06-2026
- UPDATE: Note how the tennis commentators have apparently been afraid to take a stand on Vondrousova's unfair treatment. Nary a word at all. Players are reticent to speak out too strongly as well. Why? Because the WTA / ITIA Dictatorship will find a way to censure you... and, as we have witnessed, even send their bought-and-paid-for law firms after you.mandoist24-06-2026
- Wimbledon's "body count" is now at 16 Withdrawals. Plus their maltreatment of Vondrousova makes it 17 Total.mandoist23-06-2026
- Oh, ITIA "investigated" itself. There ya go, end of story! ITIA is a questionable independent organization, in bed with WTA; both with no accounting to anyone. They have ruined careers unnecessarily, in part by NEVER admitting mistakes nor compromised testings. The agent/tester made the error by a sudden knock at the door. "Unannounced" or not, randomly appearing on someone's property can end in any of a number of ways... and not necessarily a happy ending. At my home anyone going past the property line and warning sign gets a special welcome. It's the 21st Century and we have these things you can use to call someone to announce your arrival while keeping your distance.mandoist23-06-2026
- The Williams Sham & Scam will unfortunately continue. Sorry up & coming young players -- but WTA & Venues don't care about you.mandoist22-06-2026
- Sickening, Unfair, and Pathetic. BTW: Any "history" made is in the past. Returning from faux retirement your "hstory" starts over -- you don't just pickup where you left off. Shameful to see someone need the spotlight so bad she is happy to steal Wildcardsmandoist22-06-2026
- Diana's emotions and reactions prove her dedication and extreme drive to succeed. Her workouts are as strenuous as any of her peers. Just as driven on the practice courts. Her priorities to tennis are obvious, unlike several others. A fierce competitor should be allowed his/her honest emotional displays without having to answer for them. I submit the media weasels 'Think Before They Speak' at pressers.mandoist19-06-2026
Loading