Holger Rune is one of those tennis players that fans love to see on a tennis court. His high energy, aggressive style, and his array of shots make him a force on any surface, as well as a thrill to watch. His prolonged hiatus has certainly meant he’s been missed on the court, especially as Carlos Alcaraz, another highly entertaining player, continues his recovery from the sidelines.
The Dane has not played since October last year, when he ruptured his Achilles tendon during a match in the Stockholm Open. He was initially scheduled to make his comeback late in the clay season at the Hamburg Open, just in time before the second Slam, Roland Garros, gets underway. Whether he would play Roland Garros, where he has twice been a quarterfinalist (in 2022 and 2023), was unclear at the time, but it probably depended on how his body handled the rigours of clay tennis in Hamburg.
However, the plan to return to Hamburg has now been scrapped as the player took to his X account to announce a pushback on that timeline. The young Dane wrote:
Tough decision not to play the clay season , but the right one . Can’t wait to see you all on the grass 🤩 Thank you to everyone for your love and support throughout my rehab ❤️ see you in not too long
— Holger Rune (@holgerrune2003) May 11, 2026
The former world #4 steered clear of giving an exact timeline or tournament for his return, suggesting that he didn’t want to put any pressure on himself. There was also no indication of the reason for the change in the return date. The decision now leaves the ATP tour missing two of its biggest stars, at least until the grass season.
Owing to the quick turnaround between the French Open and Wimbledon, the hope now is that Holger Rune returns to the grass season soon to build some momentum going into Wimbledon, where his best performance remains a 2023 quarterfinal run.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
