Holger Rune Returns from 11-Month Injury at ATP Tokyo

Holger Rune returned to the ATP Tour in Tokyo after an eleven-month absence caused by a torn Achilles tendon, losing his opening match to France’s Kyrian Jacquet (6-3, 6-1) in just 55 minutes, according to reports. “Me siento bien. Es un privilegio estar de vuelta,” Rune told ATP Media after arriving in the Japanese capital. “Han sido 11 meses y la sensación es increíble. Simplemente subir a un avión, llegar a un torneo, volver a este entorno… Eso es lo que me apasiona.”

How the Return Unfolded Across Competitions

The 23-year-old Danish player initially made his comeback in front of his home fans in Hillerød during Davis Cup play, defeating Iliyan Radulov and Grigor Dimitrov to help Denmark secure a spot in the 2027 qualifiers, reported. However, transitioning back to the week-to-week grind of an ATP 500 event proved significantly harder. At the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships, Rune faced Kyrian Jacquet, who capitalized on a strong run after reaching his first career ATP semifinal in Hangzhou and entering the top 100, as detailed. Jacquet dismissed the former world number four in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1, in less than an hour.

The 11-Month Recovery From Stockholm

Rune’s lengthy absence stemmed from a total rupture of his Achilles tendon sustained during the semifinals of the Stockholm Open in 2025 against Ugo Humbert, according to. The rehabilitation process required major surgery and intense physical therapy. During the recovery, Rune focused on short-term weekly targets to cope with the mental strain of watching the professional circuit continue without him. “When you’ve built your life around tennis and suddenly it’s taken away, it’s hard. But I maintained a positive mindset 99% of the time, and that steady work is the reason why I’m here today,” Rune told ATP Media.

What Lies Ahead in the Rankings

Entering the tournament ranked outside the top 100, Rune must rebuild his ranking points following nearly a full calendar year away from the tour. Jacquet showed respect toward his opponent after the final point, acknowledging the immense effort required for Rune to step back onto a professional tennis court.