Holger Rune Now Reveals When He Plans to Return to On-Court Training Following His Achilles Injury
Holger Rune has provided a much-anticipated update on his recovery from the devastating Achilles tendon rupture that abruptly ended his 2025 season. In a recent interview with Spanish newspaper Marca, the 22-year-old Dane disclosed his targeted timeline: he aims to resume on-court movement training in mid-February 2026.
The injury occurred during his semifinal match against Ugo Humbert at the Stockholm Open in October 2025. Rune described the moment vividly: “I felt like the ground was sinking, like being in the middle of an earthquake. My first thought was that there was a problem with the court. It didn’t hurt, my foot just separated from my body. A really strange experience.” Scans confirmed a full rupture of his left Achilles tendon, requiring surgery just days later.
Since then, Rune has been transparent about his rehabilitation journey, sharing regular updates with fans. He has progressed from seated hitting sessions shortly after surgery to standing forehands and walking without a boot by late December. Despite concerns from some observers about pushing too quickly, Rune emphasized a cautious approach: “My goal is to walk normally, without a limp. It requires a bit more calf strength than I have now, but it’s coming quickly; I feel better every day.”
Looking ahead, he explained, “My goal is to be able to move around the court and look like a tennis player. Depending on my progress from January 12th onwards, I might be ready to do some jumps in February, like split steps. Maybe more. But we’re taking it one step at a time.”
Rune remains resolutely optimistic about his future on tour. Currently ranked world No. 15, he dismissed any notion that 2026 would be a lost season: “Not at all, my ambitions are the same. And we’ll see what happens. I’m sure I’ll be hungry.” He also reflected on the gap between himself and top players like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, attributing it largely to consistency—a quality he believes the injury downtime will help him build through greater discipline.
Achilles ruptures are notoriously challenging in tennis, often sidelining players for 9-12 months due to the sport’s demands on explosive movement and quick changes of direction. While full competitive return could extend into the summer or later—potentially targeting the North American hard-court swing—Rune’s mid-February goal for movement training marks a significant milestone.
The Danish star’s determination has been evident throughout. From early rehab in Doha to milestone videos of regaining strength, Rune has turned adversity into motivation, vowing to come back stronger and more consistent. Tennis fans worldwide will be watching closely as he takes those first steps back onto the court in the coming weeks.
