Holger Rune ended his season prematurely at the Stockholm Open after suffering a hamstring injury before his scheduled quarterfinal match against Taylor Fritz, ESPN reported.
The decision brings a sudden close to a comeback campaign that started in September at the Davis Cup. Rune told ESPN that he preferred not to take risks that could jeopardize his health heading into the next year.
“Ayer sufrí una lesión leve en los isquiotibiales y no quiero correr riesgos jugando hoy. Quiero empezar la nueva temporada en buen estado de salud,” explained Holger Rune, [source: ESPN].
Rune Wins Six Matches and Falls to 315 Ranking
Despite the abrupt exit, Rune’s late-season return yielded six match victories since September, according to ESPN data. Punto de Break said that the Danish player will finish the year ranked No. 315 in the ATP rankings, falling from his former position inside the top 10.
His path to the Stockholm quarterfinals included a first-round victory over Zizou Berges by 6-3 and 6-4, as reported by infobae, followed by a comeback win over Miomir Kecmanovic in the second round, where Punto de Break noted he dropped the opening set 2-6 before rallying.
Emotions on the Court and 2027 Ambitions
Reflecting on his emotional outbursts during tight matches, Rune pointed to Novak Djokovic as a stylistic model for handling pressure on the court.
“Djokovic lo expresó muy bien una vez cuando dijo que está permitido mostrar emociones, y que algunas personas simplemente muestran más emociones que otras, pero siempre y cuando puedas superarlas relativamente rápido y no afecten tu juego, entonces no hay problema,” Rune told Punto de Break.
Looking ahead to the 2027 season, Rune outlined clear competitive objectives for his return to the top of the sport. Punto de Break reported that his primary goal is climbing back into the top five rankings and contending for Grand Slam titles.
“Mi objetivo para la próxima temporada es volver al lugar que me corresponde, que es estar entre los cinco primeros. Si llego a estar entre los cinco primeros, obviamente llegaré a las finales de temporada, y entonces mi objetivo siempre será ganar títulos de Grand Slam. Eso nunca cambiará,” Rune told Punto de Break.
With his physical recovery from the minor hamstring strain now the immediate priority, Rune turns his focus toward an uninterrupted preseason training block ahead of the new season.
Earlier coverage: Holger Rune Withdraws From Stockholm Open Due to Injury
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