Young tennis star worldwide suffers a severe injury, sidelined for 1 year

Once anticipated to be on par with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, this major injury will significantly affect the young athlete’s career, who had reached a world ranking of 4.

The young Danish player Holger Rune will be out of competition for 9 to 12 months after being diagnosed with a complete Achilles tendon rupture. According to his family and medical team, Rune is scheduled for surgery next week, and his recovery may extend until the end of the 2026 season, meaning the earliest possible return could be at the US Open that year — assuming an exceptionally smooth rehabilitation process.

The incident happened during the 2025 Stockholm Open semifinal when Rune collapsed on the court, crying in pain, telling the physiotherapist he heard a "pop" in his leg. His opponent, Ugo Humbert, advanced to the final in an unfortunate manner. Rune’s mother, Aneke, stated the injury was visibly severe, and doctors confirmed a complete rupture of his Achilles tendon.

"It will take a long time before I can come back. It’s hard to accept that while things were going well in Stockholm, this happened. My Achilles tendon is completely torn, I will undergo surgery immediately and start the recovery journey. Thank you all for your support — without you, things would be different.", the 2003-born player shared on his personal Instagram.

This injury is a huge shock for Rune — once regarded as one of the brightest talents of the new generation, having won the Paris Masters, reached the world top 4, and defeated many top players. However, since his breakthrough over two years ago, he has faced ongoing fitness problems and coaching changes that have led to a noticeable decline in form.

Several players like Jack Draper and Casper Ruud have sent their wishes for a speedy recovery to Rune and have also voiced concerns about the current heavy tournament schedule on the Tour.

"We are pushing our bodies beyond limits. Many talented young players are paying the price. If the schedule is not adjusted, it will be very difficult for any of us to sustain a long career.", Draper, who also had to end his 2025 season early, stated.

Related articles

'I know I’m capable of beating both Sinner and Alcaraz' That was the bold claim of Holger Rune — a highly rated young player three years ago. See more