Holger Rune: Rehab, Resolve, and the Road Back to the Top
Happy holidays to everyone. This week’s Served podcast with Andy Roddick and me looks back on a transformative tennis year. We touch on plenty of topics, including how Served grew in 2025, and we’re grateful for the audience—your feedback and support have fueled our progress. Indiana football has been, by our subjective measure, the standout sports story of 2025. And a quick tribute to tennis fan, loyal reader, and exceptional person Jason Collins—thoughts go out to him during a tough battle with glioblastoma.
Holger Rune is 22. He’s reached as high as No. 4 in the rankings, but there’s still a long journey ahead. His career, for many athletes, unfolds in chapters—and Rune’s seems split into before Stockholm 2025 and after. At a quiet indoor stop near his Danish home, he advanced to the semifinals. In the second set, while lunging for a forehand—something he’s done countless times before—his Achilles tendon gave way. He joined the ranks of athletes sidelined by a recent wave of devastating injuries.
Removed from competition for months, potentially through 2026, Rune hasn’t vanished. He’s shared recovery updates, documented the process, and vowed to return to tennis “as a beast”—more mature, more self-aware, and better rested. Between rehab sessions, he sat down with Sports Illustrated for an interview.
This interview has been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.
Sports Illustrated: People often ask how you’re doing as a throwaway question. For once, how are you actually feeling?
Holger Rune: I’m in rehab in Doha, Qatar, with a team of excellent professionals guiding me. My squad is deeply involved, and it’s moving in a positive direction. It’s been seven weeks since the surgery, and progress is ahead of the pace the doctors had laid out, which is encouraging.
SI: What are the doctors emphasizing?
HR: We set weekly milestones. The initial goal was simply to start walking without a boot. I’ve already removed the boot and will switch to regular shoes with a slight heel on December 18 to reduce stress on the tendon. We’re loading the tendon in varied ways almost daily, with one rest day to recover. I’m training hard, and I’m surrounded by experienced professionals who understand this injury well, so things are progressing well.
SI: How’s the mental side of this?
HR: There were tough days, no doubt. But my family and team have been pivotal from day one. Their support has been crucial; I wouldn’t have navigated this as well otherwise. The moment it happened was devastating, but thereafter I’ve focused on the challenge ahead. There isn’t time to dwell on it because there’s so much work to do.
SI: You’re staying physically active despite the setback. How are you maintaining fitness and balance?
HR: I’m already confident I’ll be fitter when I return. I’m maximizing what I can do, focusing on the core and upper body where I’m not restricted. I started Day 1 after surgery in the gym, prioritizing upper-body work. Tennis isn’t about sheer size—it’s about overall fitness. We’re also managing my nutrition since I’m burning fewer calories now. This experience might teach me the value of a true rest day.
SI: Beyond rehab, what will this downtime enable? New hobbies, perhaps, or a different focus?
HR: I’m exploring cognitive training and some reading—things I don’t normally do. I’ve also kept busy with physio, rehab, and strength work for the rest of the body, while cherishing time with loved ones. If anything, the period is highlighting the importance of balance and recovery as part of peak performance.
SI: What’s the best advice you’ve received so far?
HR: The simplest and perhaps most impactful guidance is to take the time you need. When I return, I intend to come back as a true force—fully prepared, unbreakable, and capable of winning across all tournaments, not just a single event. I’m hungry to return as the best version of myself.
SI: Do you think about 2026 and watching events like Australia from the sidelines?
HR: I’ve watched a bit of Paris and Turin, which reignites my hunger to come back. I won’t watch every match, but I’m a tennis fan at heart, and I’ll likely tune in. The return will be a remarkable moment, and I’ll remember the tough days during the tough moments.
SI: Are you working with a sports psychologist to manage this period?
HR: Mostly it’s the people around me—their support and a clear vision of where I want to go—that keeps me grounded. I don’t think mental coaching alone can overcome injury; it’s about belief, discipline, and the work you put in. I’m confident in my ability to heal quickly, provided I respect the tendon. The daily progress I see reinforces my optimism.
SI: Do you follow other sports or players who’ve had similar injuries?
HR: I enjoy watching other athletes, including basketball players who’ve faced Achilles injuries. The truth is, today’s players are in peak condition—bursting with speed and power. Fatigue and scheduling add strain. The tour’s demanding calendar, especially the heavy load from January to November, contributes to overtaxed bodies. While this injury is severe, it’s part of a broader discussion about how we structure the season. Many top players share concerns about the two-week Masters and overall scheduling, yet the sport remains highly athletic and fit now more than ever.
SI: Should we rethink the calendar?
HR: I don’t want to assign blame. Bad luck doesn’t tell the full story; fatigue is a major factor. We’re human, not machines. The game demands extraordinary fitness, sometimes five-hour matches, and that level of intensity isn’t sustainable for everyone. The ATP may need to adapt to protect players while keeping the sport competitive.
SI: How do you view your career so far?
HR: If you asked me as a kid whether I’d be happy with this journey if it ended today, I’d say no. My dream has always been to be the best in the world, and that dream remains alive. I’m playing the tournaments I want, living the life I imagined, but I’m far from satisfied. I’m proud of what I’ve achieved, yet I’m hungry for more. This conversation with my team reinforced that I have more to chase and more to prove. I truly believe I can be the best.
SI: Finally, what do you want fans to know amid the noise of social media?
HR: I want everyone to know I’m in good spirits and fighting with everything I’ve got to return. The fan support means the world to me; it’s difficult to describe how much it helps. I miss competing deeply, and the messages after the injury have been incredibly moving. I will be back, and I’ll come back stronger than ever, so I can make the fans proud.
SI: When you do return, do you see yourself dethroning rising stars like Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz?
HR: That’s absolutely the plan.
