Only a month ago, Holger Rune was in the Stockholm ATP 250 semis and leading Ugo Humbert 6-4, 2-2, but his body forced him to stop. After surgery for a ruptured Achilles tendon, he has focused fully on recovery, training under medical supervision. Even this Sunday, he shared an IG update with photos and videos of his workouts, from chest presses to weight training. He wrote, “First week in the boot🏋🏽5 more to go 🤪#achillesrehab #comebackloading.” However, now, in a recent interview, the young Dane explained that he doesn’t view this as bad luck but as a learning experience.

Rune spoke to Hard Court in his first interview since the injury and explained how shocking the situation was for the Dane. He said, “Honestly, I think my injury was a shock for many tennis players and athletes because I never had an issue with my ankle, and my body was super healthy. I had no issues with inflammation, and I know that for sure, because after a tough spring, I had so many blood tests, cell tests, scans, MRIs, etc., done on my physical condition, and the results showed that I was super strong.” His words showed how unexpected the injury truly was.

He later added, “So this was not supposed to happen—this should not be possible. I’m 22 years old, I’m healthy and strong, and yet it happened. But I don’t believe in being “unlucky” or having “bad luck” in sports. Everything happens for a reason, and there is an explanation behind everything.” Rune made it clear that he refuses to blame chance and instead wants to understand the cause.

He continued by saying, “So the main thing that could have caused this injury is fatigue, and that is super scary for the whole sports industry. Sport is entertainment, and we love to entertain—we love that people enjoy watching us play. We just need to make sure to listen to our bodies, too. It can be very difficult to do that when you really love to play tennis as much as I do and love the game, the tournaments, and the fans.” His comments highlighted the pressure modern players face.

For Rune, the injury ended far more than one match. It cut short a tournament where he was close to the final, ended his season, and will likely affect much of the next one. 

He had immediate surgery in Denmark, stayed there two weeks to recover, and then returned home to Monte Carlo. 

The Dane has long been viewed as one of the most promising players of his generation. His breakout came in 2022 when he won the Rolex Paris Masters at only 19, beating five top-10 players in a row, including Novak Djokovic in the final. But since then, his results have been uneven, leading many fans and analysts to feel he still hasn’t shown his full potential.

And when speaking about potential, Rune also shared that he now understands he had taken certain things for granted, something this injury has forced him to confront and appreciate in a new way.

Holger Rune reveals how injury taught him never to take talent for granted

Holger Rune has never been the most popular player on the tour, especially among fans. His behaviour, comments, and a few controversial moments, like selling his smashed rackets on the internet, have led many people to dislike him. However, now, with his injury forcing him to step away, the question is whether this setback could change him. According to the Dane, this moment may be a major turning point in his career and in his personal growth.

“To reach the top 5 or even higher, to win Grand Slams, what is needed is consistency in everything. But then life is not always a straight line to the goal. Looking back at the past years, maybe I needed this stage in my life, to mature at my own pace. This will affect my ranking, my trophies, but perhaps it was necessary. This might be the wake-up call I needed to take my talent more seriously, to prove to myself that I am capable. I am actually looking forward to taking a leap in quality,” Rune explained his mindset clearly.

Rune has already shown his potential by winning an ATP Masters 1000 title at just 19 years old. Now, he hopes to climb even higher, and he sees this injury as motivation to improve. 

He admitted, “I never doubted my love for tennis, but I took my talent for granted. I was sometimes too easy on things, and now I feel the longing, and also look back and see all the stuff I could have and probably should have done differently. Not just practice, because that is where my passion is, but all of the things around it—what you eat, etc.”

Rune also enjoyed a strong 2025 season. He won his first ATP title in two years at Barcelona. Before that, his last trophy was the BMW Open in April 2023. 

In Barcelona, he defeated then-World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in the final. He later reached the Masters 1000 final at Indian Wells, where he lost to Jack Draper in straight sets.

Now, as he continues his recovery, the tennis world watches closely. Everyone is waiting to see how Rune will return, and whether this experience will shape a new chapter in his career.