Sometimes it takes living through something to really understand it, right? Especially when it comes to injuries in sport. Holger Rune learned that the hard way. The Dane was forced out of the Nordic Open on October 18 after a sprint to return his opponent’s ball ended with a dreadful “pop.” It was the rupture of his left Achilles tendon. Tearfully, he told the physio what everyone already feared, his match was over. Following the incident, Rune shared an update, and even noted, “I had so much joy on court in Stockholm, and it’s unbearable to think that I will not feel this energy for some time now.” But some reactions were harsh, and Matteo Berrettini has had enough of it.

Many suspected Rune had been dealing with an Achilles issue, and now the Dane’s confirmed it. He’s had surgery to fix it. The injury talk hasn’t stopped, though. Some blame the brutal tennis schedule. Others, including a few Eurosport Italy pundits, argued the setback might actually help Rune reset. That take didn’t sit well with Berrettini, who wasn’t impressed by anyone calling a serious Achilles injury a “good thing.”

He wrote under a post on IG, shared via a fan on X, “Guys I get it all eh, but this stuff is really chilling… to think an injury of this magnitude could be the best thing to happen to a 22-year-old 11 player in the world is either being in bad faith or understanding very little about this sport and the sport in general. Competitive maturity and not, it comes with time, with defeats, with victories, with matches lost with match points or maybe wins by playing badly.” And he’s got a point. He’s been on tour since 2015.

As he added, “This is an injury that can radically change a persons life, let alone a career at this level.” He reminded everyone that there’s a right way to talk about such incidents. And Matteo Berrettini knows what he’s talking about.

His 2025 season was brutal. He retired mid-match at the Italian Open with an abdominal issue that ruled him out of Roland Garros, the US Open, and even the Canadian Open. By October, he resurfaced in Vienna, channeling the “anger and frustration” of months lost to recovery into his comeback. Over the past few years, he’s endured a right oblique and abdominal tear this year, a right foot injury in 2024, an ankle ligament tear in 2023, and wrist surgery in 2022.

Talking about Holger, Matteo Berretini said, “Behind that injury there is suffering, mental and physical, doubts and moments so dark that it could compromise the mental health of a very young boy.” At 22, Rune had put together a brilliant 2025 before this disaster. He captured his first ATP 500 title at the Barcelona Open in April, beating top seed Carlos Alcaraz in the final. That win sent him back into the Top 10.

He also reached the final at Indian Wells, marking his fourth Masters 1000 final and becoming the first Danish player to do so at BNP Paribas Open. But this setback is heavy. Matteo just wants people to discuss it with compassion. As Matteo pointed out: “Putting a player’s potential outcomes over their health is probably not the right way to watch and comment on sport.” And it’s not just the World No.59. Across the ATP Tour, others who’ve endured injury setbacks are speaking up after what happened to Rune.

ATP players share Matteo Berretini’s sentiment on Rune’s injury

When news of Holger Rune’s Achilles injury broke, shock rippled across the tennis world. Watching the moment unfold, Ben Shelton’s reaction said it all. A few hours later, the American took to his Instagram Stories, resharing a post from @tennischannel with a message that summed up what many were feeling: “Hate to see this 😞 Praying for a speedy recovery @holgerrune🙏.” Fans everywhere echoed his words, flooding Rune’s socials with prayers and positivity.

Jack Draper added his voice soon after. The British No. 1, currently recovering from a left arm injury, took to X to speak some hard truths. “Injuries are going to happen… we are pushing our bodies to do things they aren’t supposed to in elite sport,” he wrote. The 23-year-old has already ended his season after the US Open, all in the name of longevity. “We have so many incredible younger guys on the tour right now and I’m proud to be apart of that, however, the tour and the calendar have to adapt if any of us are gonna achieve some sort of longevity…”

World No. 5 Taylor Fritz jumped into the conversation with a dose of honesty. “Facts, also seeing more injuries and burnout now than ever before because balls, courts, conditions have slowed down a lot making the weekly grind even more physically demanding and tough on the body.” It was a statement that reflected the mood across the locker rooms. Fritz himself had just beaten Novak Djokovic in the third-place match at the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia, a contest that even saw the Serbian icon retire after just one set.

Then, a tiny ray of good news. On October 21, Rune’s surgery went smoothly. Relief washed across his fans as a post from @Olly_Tennis on X shared Rune’s own message: “I’m glad the operation went well, I’ll get over this moment. I know it takes patience, but I will work hard in rehab every single day and give everything I have to come back strong.” The fighter in him is already showing, but it’s still a fresh injury that will take time to heal. Mentally and physically.

With this, Matteo Berrettinii’s message lingers as a reminder to the media and fans alike that compassion must come first. Only time will tell how Rune’s story unfolds. But what’s your take on this?