Holger Rune suffers setback in accelerated tennis comeback from Achilles tear

Holger Rune had intended to return after just seven months, by playing the end of clay season. Carl de Souza / AFP via Getty Images Share articleHolger Rune’s attempt to beat the usual recovery time for a torn Achilles tendon has suffered a setback. The former world No. 4 announced in April that he intended to return at next week’s Hamburg Open in Germany, just seven months after tearing his right Achilles at the Nordic Open in Sweden last October. But on Monday, a representative for the player confirmed that Rune would not be ready for Hamburg nor the French Open, which begins Sunday, May 24. They explained via text message that he had felt knee irritation in the final phase of his rehabilitation, and Rune’s aim now is to return at the HSBC Championships at the Queen’s Club, London in mid-June. “I was really looking forward to making my comeback in Hamburg, and you all know how much I love the clay and how special Paris and Roland Garros have always been to me, so this has not been an easy decision to make,” Rune said in a statement. “But for me, it’s not just about being able to get through some matches, it’s about being ready for an entire tournament. I don’t want to come back feeling almost ready, but 110 percent ready when I step on court again.” Rune has been focused on beating the typical nine-to-12 month recovery time for the injury since starting his rehab. That is how long it took Kevin Durant, the future NBA Hall-of-Famer, to get back. Jayson Tatum, the Boston Celtics star, returned to action in March after more than 10 months out. Four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers returned to New York Jets practice 77 days after his tear in 2023 and had designs on a rapid return, but did not play again for more than a year. “I am 100 percent going to be back stronger than ever,” Rune said in an interview a couple of months after suffering the injury. “I can build myself exactly how I want to when I come back.” Rune also turned his rehabilitation into a kind of documentary on Instagram, which included footage of him hitting forehands while wearing various protective boots and exhibiting various degrees of movement. Rune’s semifinal run in Stockholm, where he suffered the injury, took him up to a ranking of No. 10, but he will likely return outside of the world’s top 50. Rune achieved a career-high ranking of No. 4 in 2023, off the back of winning the Paris Masters the previous year and then reaching the final of two more ATP Masters 1000 events. Having just turned 23, he is an almost direct contemporary of Carlos Alcaraz and as a youngster was tipped to reach similar heights. Rune has not been able to match the achievements of the seven-time Grand Slam champion, but has established himself as a regular in the top 20, and for a while, the top 10. The HSBC Championships, where Alcaraz is also targeting a return from a right wrist injury, starts Monday, June 15. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms